On Thursday, Assistant Chief of Police Ricky Jefferson told the Code Enforcement Committee that the lighting project from Second Street and Moultrie Street to the I-55 service road has been completed. More lighting projects are scheduled to be completed within the coming weeks.
While reviewing the reports from Code Enforcement, Councilwoman Barbara Brothers asked about the house at 1005 Hearn Street. She said that she had received a call from a citizen that had seen people sneaking in and out of the back of the dilapidated house.
“(She) tried to run them out and they said they had left something. So they are going in the back of the house…they are using that home,” Brothers said.
Code Enforcement Chairman John Mayberry stated that he had received several complaints about Sunbath Carwash concerning loud music. Mayberry stated that he knows the police have been called to the area before but the problem continues.
“What I told them to do was no tolerance, if they catch them, write them. Even if they turn it down, if they find the vehicle that had the loud music go ahead and write them,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson stated that he has personally responded to a few calls; however, the music was either turned down or the individuals were gone whenever he arrived.
Councilman L.C. Hartsfield questioned if they could serve them nuisance papers if the nuisance abatement board was set.
Jefferson stated that they would be able to serve them to the property owners.
During the Animal Control portion of the meeting, representatives from the Blytheville Humane Society stated that they could not allow the animals at Animal Control to be released in the same yards as the Humane Society animals due to the AC animals lack of vaccinations and other medical treatments. Animal Control Officer Kaitlyne Reeves responded that the reason the animals were not vaccinated until they were adopted was due to the possibility that the animal would have to be euthanized.
Animal Control has still not received the necessary chemicals to perform tranquilizations on animals in the city. Both officers stated that they have not been able to catch the pack of dogs on Chickasawba Street because they “are too smart for the catch poles.”
In other business, during the Parks and Recreation committee meeting, the committee made a motion to reappoint/appoint several citizen run committees. The reappointments included: Pam Blankeship on the Historic District Commission; Christina Dever-Pay on the CATPC board; Cecil Brown, Dale Ray and Larry Hill on the golf board; and all museum commissioners. The committee also approved the appointment of four new commissioners to the Baseball Facilities Commission, including Len Whitehead, Trey Speight, Josh Trapp and Jeff Hollingsead. All commissioners will have to be approved by the full city council.
Mayoral Assistant Cody Wyatt reported that once the pavilions in Williams Park have been finished, the city will receive half of what they have paid for the project from the state. The city will receive roughly $44,000. Wyatt also stated that on Saturday she had scheduled for several community volunteers to help clean the various city parks and surrounding areas.
The Blytheville Fishing Rodeo will be held on May 19 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Brothers wished to state for the record that animals, hover boards and motorized vehicles are not allowed at the Sportsplex facility.
“We do have rules for the park and we do have to enforce them,” Brothers said.
gwilliams@blythevillecourier.com