By David Meade
The Town of Williamston is bringing together different factions of the community to educate the public and provide training to make the area more safe and a great place to live.
Through grass roots support in the community and working with different groups and organizations, organizers are coordinating an event called 107 Days of Non-violence for school age children which will increase safety and provide them with school supplies.
Emergency First Responders including the Williamston Fire Department and EMS are joining with the Police Department in training and response coordination.
The police department is also well into their Community Policing initiative which is being implemented under the town’s new administration. The initiative includes more contact with the public and special training including a citizens police academy.
The following information was presented during the Williamston Town Council meeting Monday:
107 Days of Non-Violence
Councilman Tony Hagood reported on an initiative the town and police department are supporting called the 107 days of Non-Violence.
The initiative is being spearheaded by a local radio station, 107.3 to encourage young people to stay away from violence.
Hagood said there will be an event at the Caroline Community Center on August 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where free backpacks and school supplies will be given out to kids who sign non-violence agreements.
“The intent is to uphold that in neighborhoods and school,” Hagood said.
Any individual or organization who would like to be involved or help by contributing supplies is welcome to, he said. The Williamston Police Department is also participating in the event.
In his report, Police Chief Tony Taylor told the council that his department is working as part of a community action network to empower the community and to reduce crime, providing a better quality of life.
“We are embracing partnerships to make this a good place to live,” he said.
Taylor said they are partnering as a team with churches and different organizations.
Mayor Mack Durham said the department is “an action arm of our community. We are trying to encourage a can-do attitude for positive change and to engage the community to make sure these changes happen.”
Public Safety
Williamston Fire Chief Steve Ellison and EMS Director Joe Barr joined Chief Taylor to address Council about cooperation between the departments when responding to emergency situations.
Taylor said the departments are focusing on safety and training for a coordinated response to a hostage or shooting type incident. Councilman David Harvell is chairing the committee.
Ellison said that when there is a call, all three agencies show up. “In this day and time, we all have to be there now.”
“We are so much stronger when we work together and our disciplines overlap in public safety. We all work together. Working together will make a safer community,” Barr said.
Mayor Durham said the effort is known as interoperability, or the coordination of local abilities.
Councilman Otis Scott said there will be a town-wide cleanup which will begin the first week of September. Residents can dispose of any type trash they may have, he said.
Mayor Durham updated council on the Academy St. sewer project which he said was about thirty percent complete. Work crews have had to bore through rocks which has slowed the project, he said.
Police Chief Taylor gave an indepth review of the community policing efforts the department has implemented to engage the community.
Taylor said the citizens police academy includes a six week training course and is designed to educate the public on the role of the police department.
“We want to educate the public on what it takes to operate a law enforcement agency.
Taylor said the class will be held on Tuesdays and will have 15 people in it.
The program is designed for participation, he said.
Taylor reported the department has gone from about 450 calls to 631 in July. He said officers in the department conducted 984 business checks during the month. There were 184 walk-ins.
Taylor said there were 49 citations and 63 warnings written.
“The days of riding up and down Main St. are over,” he said. “We are being proactive. We do take our traffic seriously, however we are using them as a teachable tool.”
Committee Appointments
Council also made appointments to the Cemetery Committee and to the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Beth Wilson and Phillip Clardy were named to the Cemetery Committee and Debra Garrett was named to the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Dr. Smith Dedication
Johnnie Bell of the Williamston Area Historic Commission updated the council on plans for a dedication/memorial service for Dr. Dwight H. Smith during the Spring Water Festival.
Bell said that at the request of the family, the program will be held at 10 a.m. on Sat. Aug. 24 at the Mineral Spring. Bell said the service will be an opportunity for the WAHC, Mayor, Council and people to honor “our beloved Dr. Smith.”
Mayor Durham said that a memorial service was not held locally when Dr. Smith died and the community had not had closure..
“I hope that it will be a moment of closure for our community and a moment of celebration,” he said.
Public Concerns
During Public Comments, Pamela Owens asked Council for an update on a covered shed and camera that has been requested for the Gray Drive Park.
GWBA President Chris Trotter updated Council on the Party in Park event scheduled for this Friday.
Trotter said the event will go on rain or shine and will not be canceled if there is a small shower later in the afternoon or early evening.
Trotter also said that organizers of two events that are being held in the park in September have asked if the GWBA will also have a Party in the Park event on the same Sept. 14.
Willie Wright had concerns about sidewalks in the Greenville Drive area of the town.
Wright said asphalt sidewalks from Hamilton St. to Burger King are deteriorating and an “eyesore” and mentioned the need for improvements.
He also pointed out the lack of sidewalks leading to the Caroline Community Center. Wright said that improvements in the area have been discussed by town officials for many years, but nothing has been done and asked the town to “find the needed finances to carry it out.”
His comments led to comments from the mayor and one councilman.
Mayor Mack Durham said that he is “sorely aware that this is a fogotten part of our town:” and said in the near future he expected “renewed interest in this stretch of road – and I can assure you of that.”
Councilman Tony Hagood also responded that “the town has assembled a team that will make sure those things happen.”
