Vandals trouble Cloverdale

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Vandals have wreaked havoc on the Cloverdale Town Park, park board member Ron Jones told the Cloverdale Town Council Tuesday.

Jones said vandals have broken a water valve in the women's bathroom. When he locked the bathroom door to prevent access, he returned to find it had been kicked in and the hinges had been removed.

"I found the lids of the dumpsters in a geometric shape on the roof of one of the buildings," Jones said. "They couldn't have just been thrown like frisbees up there and landed that way."

Due to this, new dumpsters are going to have to be purchased to replace the ones that have been destroyed.

"We need to make an appeal to the town members to keep an eye on the park," said Town Attorney Alan Yackey. "It is right off the highway, so it shouldn't be too hard for people to just glance over when they're driving by."

Jones also reported that about $35,000 worth of playground equipment would be put in on June 7. The Civic League, which Lori Halloram was present to speak on behalf of, is coordinating the installation.

"We are hoping to have a great number of volunteers help us put all the equipment in," Halloram said.

In light of the vandalism, Halloram said they have volunteers to watch the park 24 hours a day for the 72 hours needed for the concrete to settle and dry.

"We were told we could use the cabin, so I guess one of us will be there at all hours," Halloram said.

The board also talked about whether to grant Town Marshal Don Pearson's request to go from 10 reserve deputies to 15.

"We'd be better served to train as many officers initially," said board member Terry Puffer.

This item will be discussed at the next meeting.

Since gas prices are so high, the board discussed buying something like a golf cart or gator for the utility department to use.

Council President Don Sublett first suggested the idea of buying a golf cart and Councilman Dennis Padgett said it might be better to look into something like a gator for its hauling capacity.

In other business, Clerk-Treasurer Patti Truax was granted the purchase of a fireproof file cabinet. She said it is needed since all the town minutes are currently unguarded. This cabinet is not to exceed $2,700.

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  • hows come the purchase of gps units for town vehicles wasnt mentioned...or the fact that town employees no longer have vehicles....oh wait except for the "chief" where you can usually find his car under a certain carport.

    -- Posted by justmoveonwillya on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 3:54 AM
  • It is very disappointing to hear of the park being vandalized. What kind of satisfaction did these vandals gain by this destruction? Were the vandals were teens with too much time on their hands? There wasn't anything for teens to do 35 years ago when I was a teen here and there certainly isn't anything for teens to do in Cloverdale now. Perhaps if they had something to do in town that drug use and vandalism would decrease. They are bored.

    -- Posted by cloverlady on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 6:07 AM
  • Why is their 4-5 dodge chargers parked in the parking lot 24/7? Is their any law enforcement in this town at all? What a joke!

    -- Posted by nascar_Couple on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 8:16 AM
  • 15 Reserve Officers for a 3 to 4 full time officer department. Think about this. How in the world would a 4 person department be able to properly and adequatley train 15 reserve officers. I guess you give them a badge and a gun and let them have free reign over us, the citizens of Cloverdale. This does not sound like a very good idea to me. Maybe the town board should not trust Pearson, and just maybe, one of the board members should call another police department outside Putnam County and inquire how they train reserve officers. They may just find out how a real police department operates.

    -- Posted by Whynotwrite on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 12:03 PM
  • It's sad that this occurs almost all the time or similar type event at our public places of recreation. One of my concerns is: this current board and police chief has cut their full-time officers from 4 total to 3 total. We also added a commissioner (?) and now 10 to 15 reserves. I remember the current ones in place on this board stating to their constituents, "Better Police Protection". I see 4 police cars parked almost 24/7 at the town hall, one that's not is usually at his place of "Personal" business, either parked under the canopy or in the garage (Yeah, I see you) I don't see any of the reserves out, just our three full-time officers. When will the citizens and business owners of Cloverdale challenge and make our leaders answer to the real problems? Cloverdale is only growing/increasing with population daily; we need BETTER PROTECTION then what we are getting or vandelism today, bigger crimes tomorrow. Simple fact here: If the normal law abiding citizens notice the police cars parked, what do you think our criminals are thinking??? Ponder this quote...

    YOU are RESPONSIBLE for YOUR OWN ACTIONS!

    -- Posted by ckenthefacts on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 1:20 PM
  • Mr. Crafton, its quite apparent you do not understand the workings and consequences of a town government. The town is slowly going broke trying to survive the fiasco of board decisions such as what they have done with the police department and your reporting of the meeting was on a small, unfortunate, single act of vandalism. The article did not expand on the park and town itself is open game for vandals with the police coverage the town has operated under for the past 6 months. This fact would have tied in nicely with the comment made by the attorney where the citizens are suppose to watch the park instead of the police department. The article did not give a few basic facts such as 3 of the 4 police cars are normally parked at the town hall nor after 6 months the town still does not have the "promised" reserve program in place, so its no surprise vandalism occurs. As a reporter I would think you would look into why Pearsons car is parked at his residence even when he is on duty instead of patrolling the park. You would have such a big story, the sensational headline grabbing stories the banner tends to cater to, if you would open your eyes and see. Your article did not even point out where the board took away the take home vehicles for all employees with the exception of Pearson. Could it be Pearson investors (town board as published in the banner) are trying to save personal business expenses by providing Pearson with a vehicle to use?? That is what should have come out of this article of the meeting you attended.

    -- Posted by gingb2 on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 9:02 PM
    Response by Kevin - Banner Graphic:
    Then it is a wonderful thing to have an open, anonymous forum for you to voice what is most important to you, wouldn't you say?
  • ya why was the fact that all take home vehicles were taken away from employees...i'm sure that if i was the utility manager or water super, when an emergency or something is needed attended to after hrs. or on the weekend, i'd be glad to hop right into my vehicle and burn my own gas....not.

    -- Posted by justmoveonwillya on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 9:58 PM
  • Just a few comments. First,sure theres not much to do in Cloverdale,but its rotten thinking kids with not enuff quality parenting thats the blame there.(weak Law enforcement doesnt help)Secondly,why force Charlie out then claim we need more help. He was at least a prescense in the schools.I just simply dont see squad cars out much at any time anymore.(maybe the force is busy being Pall bearers?)Thirdly,this council is the worst in Indiana. PERIOD! Look at our assets,debts,pending litigations,finished litigations,the many embarasing stories in the newspaper(surprised anyone would consider moving here) and you can plainly see ol Clovertucky has issues that stretch from here to there!Time to vote and make a change,next chance we get. The only way is to completely gut the crew and start fresh.

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 10:53 PM
  • Just a P.S. Maybe Mr.Sublet should have traded the towns van for that golf cart he wants,or maybe sold the van at auction then bought a cart.I guess the picture in the Banner of Sublet GIVING the van away wouldnt have happened then....oh well,small town gubment.......

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 10:57 PM
  • Maybe they could just park all the extra patrol cars(cept for that one under the carport) down at the park,those dysfunctional hooligans will never catch on.....

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Thu, May 15, 2008, at 10:59 PM
  • i liked the comment made by our wonderful attorney that is milking the town dry, "We need to make an appeal to the town members to keep an eye on the park," said Town Attorney Alan Yackey. "It is right off the highway, so it shouldn't be too hard for people to just glance over when they're driving by." In EVERY driver safety video i've ever seen its always said to keep your eyes on the road. So is he saying that it is up to us as citizens to be "keeping an eye on things" and jeapordize our own safety? On another note, kudos to clovertucky, i totally agree!

    -- Posted by justmoveonwillya on Fri, May 16, 2008, at 1:49 AM
  • There is never any good reason for vandalism. I thought it was a great well thought out plan by our town attorney to ask the citizens to watch over the park. I hear that at the next meeting, he will have an ordinance written up to make it the town residents' responsibility to keep the park safe. This ordinance may be with a value-pac of ordinances pre-written, and at a bargain price of $3500. We can afford this since we are parking all the vehicles now. As for parking vehicles, did the town get paid for the use of 2 vehicles in a recent parade? Have we got contracts for future parades?

    I applaud the council for taking MY advice and having the GreenSneeze dumpster placed at the town hall (no charge for the idea).

    I'm still wondering what the total amount to date spent on attorney fees is, anybody know?

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Fri, May 16, 2008, at 6:43 AM
  • There ought to be a town board training seminar. You appoint these uneducated citizens into running a town. They need to understand business. It appears most of their own financials are not in order, and they are the ones making decisions here? The only one making any money here is Yackey. He has the town board so snowed its not even funny. Meanwhile, your town crumbles, crime is up, business's are calling outside Police agencies just to get the attention they deserve, because their is not a police department in their own town. Depressing, disheartening, and absolutely no leadership.

    -- Posted by nascar_Couple on Fri, May 16, 2008, at 9:16 AM
  • "We need to make an appeal to the town members to keep an eye on the park," said Town Attorney Alan Yackey. "It is right off the highway, so it shouldn't be too hard for people to just glance over when they're driving by."

    Awesome. Part of being paid the big bucks and we got that response. Wonder if he had to seek assistance outside his office for that 'intelligent' answer. I have one challenge to this 'appeal'; If a citizen does happen to see 'something' questionable and calls 911 or police, which agency will respond? My bet is, Cloverdale Police will not have anyone on, or will, but won't respond to the radio, page(s) or phone call attempts from dispatch. In particular, the chief. Heard this happens ALOT! Check into it, you'll find out that high percentage of Cloverdale's calls get responded to by outside agencies, due to our 'great' new policy and protection force. Another source to ask and check is our school corporation, see how they feel 'warm and fuzzy' with the new plan and which agency showed up in an emergency. The answer is NOT CLOVERDALE. Then again, we may have to have Mr. Town Attorney hire someone who is considered an 'expert' in this field. Citizens of Cloverdale have better commons sense on this....we are paying attention!

    Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.

    -- Posted by ckenthefacts on Fri, May 16, 2008, at 10:15 AM
  • What a shame that a few bad kids can take away from the parks attempts for trying to improve. The Council should have said that the police will step up and attempt to catch these vandals, file charges against anyone caught damaging town property, parents will pay up if the kids are not of age, and the kids will serve a lot of community service, and then back it up. As far as the attorney goes, it sounds like he should leave the talking up to the ones that are supposed to be running the town.

    -- Posted by sadNmad on Fri, May 16, 2008, at 8:29 PM
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