2002-10-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1856 October 21,2002 Barbara Heise, 920 Golf Course Drive, came forward. She stated that her first comment was about a properly she had just rehabbed at 6831 Etzel. She said that while most of the homeowners were concerned residents who are proud of their homes, the occupant to the west was different. She noted that, although they have a newer model car, the windows were taped, that there is trash in the back yard, that the garage was falling down, and the roof could practically be seen through. She said that she had heard comments from City Hall that, because the occupants could not afford maintenance, codes were not enforced. She stated that this was a "slap in the face to the people" to those who are maintaining their properties. Her second comment was about 6814 Crest. She stated that the property has had many more occupants that allowed for several years. Upon bringing the situation to the attention of the Housing Department several times, she said she has been told that a police reports were required. She was also informed that police reports state that there was no over crowding. Ms. Heise said that a congregation can be seen at that address between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. She said police have told her that they have no evidence and she asked if they had ever checked to see how many students show this address as their home. Her last comments were in response to statements made by Chief Payne in the Oct 17 article in the Post Dispatch which quoted the Chief as saying "to me it's not a serious problem." Ms. Heise said that the neighborhood has had a drug house in it for over five years. Although Chief Payne says the children are not stealing or committing any crimes, she said that children were stealing and roaming the streets at 10 and 11 pm at night. She said that she felt that past meetings with the Chief had been fruitless and asked for change rather than discussion. Kathy Straatman of 6823 Crest Avenue and from the Roth Grove Neighborhood Association said she also wanted to respond to Chief Payne's remarks as quoted in the Thursday, October 17 Post Dispatch article. She said that his statements reflected a nonchalant, disrespectful response demonstrated during the August 30 meeting with Major Adams and Chief Payne. She wanted to emphasize that Mr. Dockett was not speaking as an individual; but as the President of the Association and he expressed many citizens' concerns about occupancy violations, drug dealing and juvenile delinquency. She also said that a "north of Olive" attitude and failure to enforce local ordinances not only had a negative impact on property values, it also resulted in defiant attitudes by violators. Richard Dockett of 6844 Crest and President of Roth Grove Neighborhood Association expressed his agreement with the statements made by previous speakers. He also stated that the Association was trying to implement their portion of the University City Master Plan. He said that 6814 Crest appeared to be a social club, was the center of drug traffic and that adults recreate in the street at 6901 and 6853 without police intervention. He stated that, in correspondence with Mr. Ollendorff, Chief Payne, and attorney Mulligan, he had requested a written response on policies about certain issues under the Freedom of Information Act and gave the City a five day deadline for a response to the incident that occurred at his house on August 27. 5