City Hears from Residents about Police, GAH
The Monticello City Council heard from several people asking them to continue to fund the Monticello Police Department during a public hearing Monday. Another hot topic discussed was the Get Ahead House budget cuts.
The standing-room-only crowd overflowed into the hall outside council chambers with each speaker asking if there was anywhere in the budget that could possibly be cut in order to fund public safety.
The council, minus Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Jacobs who was absent, heard from Police Chief Bobby Norris, and Angela King on grants that could be obtained to aid in relieving some of the financial burden to finance the police department. Currently cutting the department would save the city just over $350,000.
Chief Norris and Ms. King said that after looking over the last six months, they have found two grants which are a 75/25 match with the city funding the 25 percent. One of the grants is the Cox Hiring Grant which the city received in 2010-2011. According to Ms. King, this up to $125,000 grant will provide money to employee an officer for 36 months along with a vehicle and equipment. The city match would be $31,250 and the Department of Justice would fund $93,750.
The other grant would be the Community Policing Grant which allows the city to receive up to $125,000 as well. Other grants being looked into include the Bulletproof vest grant providing outfitting for eight officers. Also, the Firehouse Subway Grant where agencies get up to $10,000 for lifesaving equipment.
Councilwoman Katherine Alexander asked if it was up to $125,000 each year, for up to three years to which she was informed it was. Ms. King told the council that the MPD would apply as an existing applicant as when it was awarded before all of the criteria were met, helping in getting it this time.
Councilman David Wease stated that at looking though previous notes from 2010-2011 this was only a one time grant, to which Ms. King said that it had just reopened and imdicated that it could be applied for again.
Dr. Angela Gordon asked when the funds would be available and if the grant was contingent on the execution of the previous awarded monies. She also asked if there was a committee or anyone aiding as grants usually take some work. Ms. King replied that the money would be available in September of the following year and that the MPD met all of the mandates from the previous grant.
Rev. William Gibson asked that the council go to God and pray over this decision. He said that the council look to the budget with one accord, and with the right accord. He said, “We need protection during this time.”
Rev. Jimmy Horton addressed the council stating that he couldn’t understand putting money over safety. He asked that the council think of the children and the elderly. He stated (along with many others) that with no protection, “every criminal is going to come here and set up shop.” He said, “I believe that every citizen would be willing to pay one cent more on taxes to keep the MPD.”
“I hope that this is not a personal or a racial decision,” he said. “I think that we should start at the head and go down—everyone should take a cut.” “We don’t have crime everyday, but we’re not exempt.” He then expressed that if an incident were to happen he didn’t want to have to wait on the sheriffs department to respond. He also said that the citizens of Monticello were smart and suggested that the council do what’s best for them—keeping the MPD.
Rev. Samuel Mosteller, current president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was in attendance and said “in looking over your budget, I see that there are a lot of general line items.” He stated that he had been in law enforcement both inside and out of the U.S. and he was here [in Monticello] recruiting. He said thattshe sheriff also already had too much to do.
He said from what he heard the people, businesses, and churches haven’t had an input. He stated that the budget needed to be more specific so that something could be done. He encouraged more transparency and line items in the budget. “Public safety is number one in this community, and no one is going to want to come to Monticello without feeling safe,” said Rev. Mosteller. “The police chief is being proactive. We should support that, and humbly ask that you keep the MPD,” he said.
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Martha Pompey spoke to the council about the amount that contracted services received in the FY2015 budget. She stated that $756,964 were in various line items for contracted services. She then went through each department and asked what the monies for each contracted service was for. She questioned the $5,000 Get Ahead House budgeted line item for telephones, and why there was any money in next years budget to fund a police department employee if it was “going away” July 1.
“I’m seeing raises for some departments, but then you want to do away with the MPD,” Ms. Pompey said. Also, “the city employees that I talked to would be willing to take cuts to keep public safety.” “You mean to tell me that you’d rather keep $17,850 in parks and recreation over safety?” she asked. She stated that it seemed that the council was spending a lot of money out of the community and wanted to know more on the contracted services.
Jacqueline Smith began by stating that she was against the elimination of the MPD.
She said, “This council has a history of making decision based on personal agendas and not on transparencies. There is no planning and it’s clear that there are hidden agendas.” She informed the council that she met with Sheriff Donnie Pope and noted that he was not consulted. “What you are doing is shifting the power from a black chief to a white sheriff.”
According to Ms. Smith, Sheriff Pope said that he would do everything he could to protect the citizens of Monticello. He also stated to Ms. Smith that he’d have to work his officer’s overtime. “What we will get is tired, overworked officers,” she said. The officers still have to be paid, Ms. Smith pointed out. She said that it’s been said that the county is going to have to raise taxes two mills.
“This council harasses the chief at each meeting asking frivolous questions that have nothing to do with his job, but the fact that he was born black,” Ms. Smith said in conclusion to that portion.
She then stated that the GAH program was a proven program that the current Miss Georgia went through. She asked why the council would eliminate funding for that program. She said that the council members were putting money for incarceration over education.
NOTE: The Council voted to cut the GAH by 15 percent as the funds given to the program each year have been increasing. They are not looking to do away with the GAH program which is supplemented by Morehouse College and the city of Monticello.
Ms. Smith said, “these are not business decisions. Someone has to pay for these services.” “I don’t know if the council is incompetent or if they’re trying to intentionally cripple the city.” “By crippling the city and making the county as one you are totally diluting the black vote.”
She finished by saying, “We the citizens of Monticello know that these are not business decisions but exclusive decisions based on private control.”
Bobby Sutton spoke saying that he’d been in the county 40 years and questioned why the council didn’t look into grants and other ways to find money. He suggested that maybe there need to be a second look.
Nancy Johnson, a single woman in the city said that the MPD was needed for the kids and the elderly in the city. “I enjoy seeing them ride by,” she said.
James Campbell spoke to the crime increase that would come as a result of the elimination. He stated that he was in law enforcement for 37 years. He said that the criminals are hoping that the MPD is done away with and stated that if that happened that the mayor may as well resign. He also said that “the sheriff will do as little as possible being that the city didn’t budget correctly.”
Traveta Stone spoke of her son, a four year old, knowing all of the officers. She also said that as a citizen that lived on Mason Street she was offended that when this happened the last time, CNN was brought to Mason and portrayed as the worst street in the city. She said, “you’re supposed to provide safety. I’ll kill some child that’s trying to break into my house, the budget should be understood, but by doing away with the police, the blood will be on your [the council’s] hands.”
Andrew Davis got up and addressed Sheriff Pope who was in attendance as to his thoughts on the elimination.
Sheriff Pope said “It was my intention to stand here in the corner and listen. But I want the people of Monticello to know that I am here. There is no one in this county that will be affected by this more than me. I will do my best and I will put in the time, but I didn’t ask for this. I already miss ball games.”
“I’ve said repeatedly that I’m proud of my folks and I couldn’t ask them to do more. We’re working. Just look at the newspaper and you can tell that we’re putting in some time. But this decision will cause me to do just that, ask more of them.”
“This is not what Donnie Pope asked for. The planning and logistics that are needed to do this job should take years. I can’t plan or prepare for anything until June 11, after the vote on the budget.”
“We could go on emergency rotations, we’re working on alternatives. The captains are working hard and we’re not going to let the people of Monticello suffer.
“I was elected and will do my best to protect this city.
“It should cost about a half a million dollars for this. 34.7% of calls are inside the city. That’s a third.” “It’s going to be a transition. $500,000 is the money needed and will be burdened by the county’s budget rather than the city’s.
“I’ve had some conversations lately that may have caused me to hurt my testimony, and at the end of all this God is who I answer to. But at the end of this year I’m going to have to stand before the citizens and say that I’m over budget or I didn’t do my job. The money is not there—the county doesn’t have it either.
“In closing I want all of you to let the folks of Monticello know that the Sheriff will take care of the people.”
Following the Sheriff, Dr. Angela Gordon spoke on the GAH. She said to the council, “I, along with my brother [James Campbell] were born and raised on Mason Street. We got to where we are because of education. I am a doctor of education. We were born into poverty; praise God we didn’t stay in poverty.
“There are children born into poverty and some of those attend the GAH. Our children must be educated. We must take them under our wing. Children at the GAH are more successful. Every child deserves to get a good education. Parents are not educated, we have got to be instrumental in breaking this vicious cycle, otherwise none of you will have a job.”
“If there is a problem with the program, correct the program. Put together a team and improve it, don’t do away it,” said Ms. Gordon.
Diana Moreno stood before the council to ask what they were doing to attract industry and new avenues that could be tapped into for funding. She said that she saw that the Chinese restaurant and the Monticello Diner had both left. “We should be attracting business and industry that would be an improvement to our community,” she said.
Mary Sharp spoke in favor of the MPD. She said that she works abnormal hours at Sunrise Thrift Store and feels more safe knowing that there are officers and cruisers around the square.
Ms. Smith then came back before council to ask, “if this was a business decision, the minute the council shifted and knew that this may happen they didn’t start talking to him [Sheriff Pope] then, back in January?”
Moses Manning, a student in Jasper County public schools stood before the council and stated that he was an A-B student and named all of his CRCT scores. All of them above 800. He asked, “please don’t close the GAH.”
Pat Standifer stated to the council that she had two grandchildren and was happy to be a part of this community, but that the children already don’t have anything to do. She says that the grandchildren are enrolled in day camp at the GAH and that she, too wanted police protection.
Walter Smith spoke in favor of the police department and GAH stating that if the council will look at the budget, it can probably find the money. He also said the council had not congratulated Ms. Anderson on the good job she’s doing at the GAH. He said that Dr. Langley [with Morehouse College} recognizes the Jasper program as the best it has, because of the due diligence of the teachers and staff.
He went on to say that the Get Ahead House is going to survive.
Rubye Griggs spoke on behalf of the GAH, saying that those children are given an opportunity to go beyond Monticello because of the program. She said that education should be at the top of the totem pole of priorities.
She said when you try to bring in new business, and they learn there is no police department, they may have no interest, just like if there is no hospital. You have to have services to attract people, she aid. She suggested the council re-think the whole thing.
Gary Jenkins asked council members if they had considered the impact of their decision on the crime in the streets and on city taxpayers and city services. Also, he wanted to know if the city would transfer any tax revenues to the county. He told how he had ridden with the police chief and been impressed with his knowledge of the community. He went on to say that he appreciated the police department and the council.
Another man asked why they sublet services to leave the county by using out of county parole and probation services.
Former Police Chief Danny Norris said he personally would do all he could to keep the GAH open. He asked those in the crowd if they would be willing to pay $25 more for the police department. He asked the council if they could go up on rates.
He said don’t just look at budget, look for solutions. He said he could have an accountant go through the budget and find the funds.
A few minutes after 9 p.m., most of the spectators left the meeting, although the council made comments afterwards.
Stanley Davis and a handful of others remained, and Mr. Davis spoke. He said that the city could make money with movies, a fair, other means. He suggested council put their heads together. “I know five people on council can put their heads together and come up with ways to make money.”
In council comments, Councilman Larry Thurman said that Monticello is not a big municipality and that the council should look at the salaries of certain people in certain departments.
Councilwoman Katherine Alexander said it was a sad day, a hard day, but that “we have seen it coming.” We’re living off borrowed money she said. We’re trying to keep the city intact. She said she has a economics degree and has looked at the budget and does not see where the money is [for the Police Department]. She said, “If we don’t do something there will be no city My job is to make sure there is a city for people to come home to.”
Councilman David Wease also picked upon the movie making and said he’d like for Monticello to be able to pick up money that way but doesn’t know how to proceed.
Councilman Cornell Williams said “they already made a decision…it’s already been made the way she put it,” apparently referring to Councilwoman’s Alexander’s remarks.
He said it is about black and white and has nothing to do with money. He referred to the mayor pro tem referring to ya’ll saying he was referring to blacks. He said that Mr. Jacobs said a year ago when they got one more white person on council the police department would be gone. Then he spoke of the officers losing their jobs and how that would affect their families.
The mayor thanked everyone for being civil and said council has some homework to do by next Tuesday. He said it was a great conversation and closed the public hearing just before 9:30 p.m.
