2011 Marshal's report shows increase in crime

Town Marshal Mike Wren presented the 2011 year end report at Monday night’s Town Council meeting.

Wren and Deputy Marshal Bryce Peterson responded to 233 calls for service in 2011, up from 211 in 2010. Criminal citations were up from 15 in 2010 to 17 in 2011, and infractions issued were up from 16 to 22.

There were five felony arrests during the last year, including charges of Assault 3, Theft 2 (theft of a motor vehicle), two sexual assaults, residential burglary and possession of methamphetamine. According to Wren, the Assault 3 is going to trial, a warrant has been issued for a suspect in the motor vehicle theft and the drug possession case is still pending. The others resulted in guilty pleas.

Animal complaints comprised the most numerous calls, with a total of 32. Officers were called upon for agency assists 21 times.

The department issued 244 dog licenses, up 8 from 2010.

A robbery case carried over from 2010 resulted in a two-year prison sentence for the perpetrator.

Other calls included 11 for assault/domestic violence, eight for thefts, four juvenile complaints, four warrant arrests, four motor vehicle accidents, four attempted burglaries, three burglaries, three drug investigations, three vehicle prowls, three residential burglaries, and two disorderly conduct calls.

Wren also reported that progress is being made in the December 26 Odessa Drug burglary. He said that Peterson has spent approximately 80 hours on that incident alone.

The officers also continue to follow up on a 2012 rape case and a CPS (Child Protective Services) referral.

Finally, Wren addressed plans to implement a “neighborhood watch” type program in Odessa. He and Mayor Doug Plinski have received information about a program implemented in Vancouver, Wash., called “Neighbors on Watch.” The program uses volunteers who first have to pass background checks, take 26 hours of training, be physically fit and provide their own vehicle. The volunteers patrol in pairs, with the mission to “observe and report” only. They are not armed, and are provided with radios for emergency use only. Any calls from the volunteers go through the 9-1-1 dispatch system.

The Vancouver program has been in place for four years and currently has 12 people. According to Wren, they are interviewing more applicants, hoping to raise the number to about 40. The Vancouver program has been so successful that a number of communities throughout the state are reportedly planning to implement their own.

Wren said that he believed just two pairs of volunteers could make a significant difference in Odessa. Plinski added that the town simply could not afford the number of paid officers it would take for 24/7 patrols.

Quadco grant

Plinski informed council members that a report has been received from USKH, the town’s contracted engineering firm, with results of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) study that was completed with Quadco grant money. The report identifies all public areas throughout the town of Odessa, and locations where there are obstructions to access.

Community kitchen

One council person and three others present had attended the the February 10 dinner to raise funds for the commercial kitchen to be installed in the Community Center. With a total of 84 dinners served, there was good attendance. Most of those present favored a remodeling plan that expanded the current kitchen north along the east wall of the building. The event raised more than $2,000 for the project.

Resolution amendment

Council voted to amend resolution 97-1, which originally established a $2,500 police department emergency fund at Bank of America. The town has learned that the minimum balance needed to maintain an account without fees is $3,000.

Library

Librarian Julie Jantz reported that the Library Board received two letters of interest for the open board position. They have recommended JoAnn Hardt for the position, with the understanding that there will probably be another opening later in the spring that the second applicant could fill. The council voted to accept Hardt to the Library board.

Jantz also reported on progress made with the Washington Rural Heritage Grant she applied for and received. The library now has a top-of-the-line flatbed scanner which will be used to preserve digital copies of many of Odessa’s precious historical documents and photographs.

Jantz reported that representatives from the Washington State Library were in Odessa to assist her in starting the project, and scanned 31 framed Joshua Elmer photographs which will be available not only on the Odessa Library’s Web site but also on the state library’s site.

Jantz added that the grant requires that she scan at least 100 photographs, and that Marge Womack and John Gahringer have selected photos from the Historisches museum to add to the digital collection.

Fire Department

Fire Chief Don Strebeck reported that the department’s annual “smoker” event was a success. He reported that Mike Nichols has retired after 25 years with the department, and that his replacement would be Paul Whitmore. Three new members were also added: Jerry Monroe, Alberto (Abby) Reyes and Joel Sherwood.

Strebeck said that the $50,000 FEMA grant request to replace the department’s aging SCBAs (self-contained breathing apparatus) was denied. Feedback from the agency as to why the request was denied has been requested. Strebeck said that he has been told that attending grant writing classes could give him an advantage.

In the meantime, the SCBAs that are questionable will be sent to Portland to be checked out and rebuilt as necessary.

Each SCBA costs just less than $5,000, according to Strebeck. The tanks alone cost $400 each. On top of that, the turnouts the firemen wear when on a call cost approximately $2,000 each.

Each of these items, Strebeck said, has a specific life, ranging from 10 to 15 years. After that time, the safety of the firefighters could be compromised. The tanks for the SCBA units must be replaced after 15 years, he said, and 2012 is the fifteenth year.

Strebeck added that the department’s consignment auction has been scheduled for April 28, in the hope that the dual draw of the quilt show/farm auction will bring more bidders to town.

Public Works

Public Works Director Roger Sebesta reported that “there’s not a heck of a lot going on” this time of year. Department personnel are using the time to catch up on continuing education (CE) hours at conferences and classes around the area. He said that each employee is required to complete approximately 40 hours of CE every 3 years.

Sebesta added that the town’s grant request for equipment for the water treatment plant was still pending.