Concerns about drug dealing, bad language, and vandalism took front seat at the last Stevensville Town Council meeting, culminating in a decision to place security cameras in Lewis and Clark Park and pay for the cost of replacing the soccer nets that were vandalized.
The issue of drug dealing at the park was broached by Council President Bob Michalson at the beginning of the meeting when, following the police report, he said that he had received two calls in the last three days about drug dealing in town. Michalson said that there was a “Mexican gang” openly dealing heroin in the streets and at the park. He claimed to know the location of the gang and said that a couple of the gang members did not speak any English.
“This is an ongoing thing that is very real,” he said.
Police Clerk Jenelle Berthoud suggested that Michalson have the people he talked to contact the police department and share any information they might have about drug dealing in town.
Police Chief James Marble, who was not present when Michalson made his comments, said later that he was not aware of any real “gang” activity currently in Stevensville.
“But is there drug activity going on in the open? Absolutely, unfortunately,” said Marble. He said Stevensville’s drug problem seems to be getting a little worse lately. He attributes that, to a large degree, to having a one-man police force. He said “bad guys” know the situation and can see it as an opportunity, leading to an influx of criminal activity that compounds the problem.
“We need a properly equipped and funded police force if we want to preserve the small-town atmosphere of peace and tranquility that we still have,” said Marble.
The first item on the council’s agenda was to install security cameras and security lighting in Lewis and Clark Park. Michalson said that the issue had been discussed and tabled for years and something needed to be done. Council member Robin Holcomb said cameras may have to be considered in all the town’s parks.
Mayor Brandon Dewey said that he had contacted other mayors around the state and that while a couple have placed security cameras at their town dump sites, none had placed any cameras in their parks, although Helena was considering it. Dewey said the cost was substantial to install a security system, mainly due to the requirement for a climate-controlled environment for the DVR system.
Police Chief Marble said that Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks was using less expensive game cameras and having good luck with them. They are less expensive and they can be moved around from place to place or moved from park to park. He said his department used them during vandalism spree at the town’s cemetery. He recommended having the mayor price some game cameras and come back with a proposal.
Cathi Cook, who has been on the soccer board for 12 years and served as president for the last eight years, said that she has been coming to the council for at least the last six years trying to get some action about the vandalism problem.
“I’m sick and tired of tip-toeing around this issue,” said Cook. “We need to be proud of this park and we need to take good care of it. Let’s get off our butts and take this town back.” Then she offered to donate $5,000 toward the installation of some cameras and said the offer was good until December 31.
Mayor Dewey said that he needed some specific direction about how to proceed and the installation would be funded.
Council member Raymond Smith said that he believed the funding was available. He said $5,000 currently budgeted for swimming pool repairs was not going to be spent and could possibly be used for cameras. He said the generous offer from Cook was also on the table.
Michalson withdrew his motion to install the cameras and Smith made a revised motion to accept Cook’s offer of $5,000 and proceed to purchase the cameras. NorthWestern Energy has already donated the power to run two lights that already exist in the park and other lighting has been installed around the swimming pool building.
The motion was approved unanimously and in a following motion the Council agreed to reimburse the soccer club for the cost of replacing the soccer nets that were recently vandalized. That cost, according to Cook, is $100 per net.
In other business, the Council approved the purchase of four laptop computers with mouse and carrying case for each council member.
“It’s time for the council to step up and treat itself to a laptop,” said Michalson. Asked where the money would come from, he said, “Can’t the Treasurer figure that out?” The purchase was approved unanimously.
A motion to change the Council meeting days to the second and fourth Thursday of each month from the current Monday schedule failed on a tie vote.
After hearing from staff and the public, a motion to direct the mayor to restore the council chamber’s furniture configuration to the previous layout was unanimously defeated.
The Council passed a motion directing the mayor to have the required training regarding bullying, harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace conducted for all employees and Council members prior to the first council meeting in November.
The Council passed a resolution declaring its intent to vacate the 40-foot alley running through Block 17, Lots 3 through 18, of the original townsite of Stevensville. A public meeting will be scheduled before the final decision to vacate.
The council also authorized the Police Department to submit an grant application to the Rapp Family Foundation for remodeling the police department space.