Two more officers are on duty in the village of Valleyview after two auxiliaries were sworn in as part-time probationary deputy marshals.
The village has nine officers, Chief Ti Myers said shortly before Nelson Frantz and Victory Staley were sworn in by Mayor Tom Watkins at the June 2 village council meeting.
Both officers were in uniform when they took the oath of office and began their tour of duty. Council members had approved their elevation just prior to the swearing-in ceremony.
Myers said that with these two new part-time officers, he can spread out the work the officers do, so some of the part-timers don’t have to work 32 hours a week.
In the month of May, officers put in 636 hours and drove the cruisers 2,195 miles as they carried out their work.
Council also approved a resolution to retain the village solicitor on a month-to-month basis.
At the meeting Solicitor Don Wolery advised council and village residents of what they could do in regards to “trashing” of property.
His advice came after resident Norma Leffler talked about the trashing of the property next door to hers. She said people threw a frozen turkey and other discarded food out into the yard the previous Friday.
By Monday, she said, “the stench was awful. We couldn’t open our doors or windows. We don’t have to live like this.”
Watkins said he was aware of some of the activities at the location she mentioned and had notified the health department. The mayor said he had personally paid trash haulers to clean up the corner.
Leffler’s neighbor, Angie Jones gave Watkins photos she had taken during the weekend at the specific location in an attempt to bolster their case.
Wolery said the owners could be cited into Environmental Court if they don’t meet deadlines to clean up the property as established by the Health Department.
“If citizens feel strongly about an issue (such as this trashing), they should contact the police department,” he said. “Police cannot file any charges unless they see the action. It is up to the citizens to stand up and be counted and put their signature on the line.”
On another issue, Watkins and council member Marzia Helton, who chairs the community relations committee, both expressed their appreciation to the residents for their participation in the recent village clean-up weekend.
Watkins said two large Dumpsters were filled with trash. The pair also thanked the YMCA youth group and local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts for their assistance.
A crimson maple tree was planted to mark the community’s first step in becoming a tree city.
Watkins said the tree, currently about four feet high, will grow to about 60 feet tall with a spread of about 20 feet.
Helton said she would continue working to see what trees could be removed and where young trees could be planted.
The village council welcomes residents at the meetings, the first Monday of every month, in the village administration building. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on July 17.
