Burglaries in the city up from previous year

By Lora Scripps/The Leeds News

Leeds Police Chief Ted Cook informed council members on Monday night that burglaries in the area are up 25 percent over this same time last year.

“We are down significantly year-to-date on all crimes against persons,” he said. “However, our burglary numbers are very badly up–25 percent up over this same time last year,” he said.

Cook said that the police department has made significant arrests, but unfortunately every one of those people are back out on the street as fast as they can get them in.

Councilman Ross Bartee said that in light of the Christmas season and since burglaries are up, he would like to remind all residents to pay attention and be careful.

Chief Cook reiterated his concerns and stressed that he encourages citizens to look out for themselves and each other, from someone unusual walking through their yard or their neighbor’s yard to unusual cars that they do not recognize.

“We would really appreciate your help and the opportunity to go and check them out,” he said.

Some prevention tips to help protect the home include: lock doors; keep garage doors closed and locked; remember to arm burglar alarms; when your home is unoccupied, make it look someone is home; increase outside lighting around your home and trim trees and bushes in order to limit hiding places; have neighbors pick up mail and newspapers while on vacation; continue to implement neighborhood watch programs; and if you see suspicious activity or persons, call the police.

Other items included:

• a welcomed report from Leeds City Schools Superintendent John Moore. Moore said that the school construction projects are 99 percent complete, adding that there are a few punch line items remaining on the two facilities. He said that the ditch in front of Leeds Middle School is in the works to be repaired at $185,000. Subcontractors were set to begin on Monday, but Moore said Windstream contacted him and informed him that a fiber optic cable runs across the ditch. Moore said that he and Kevin Fouts would attend a meeting with Windstream to work out the issue in order for the project to be completed. He is hoping to have the project completed by the first of February.

Moore said that the roof at Moton School would be replaced through $100,000 in legislative funds from Representative Owen Drake. The project will begin the first of January.

The school board also received $850,000 in federal money (an interest free loan) through QSCB funds (Qualified School Construction Bonds) that will be used to finish the last phase of renovations at Leeds Elementary School.

Moore also spoke about the budget and included that they have an $11 million budget and that out 132 school systems in Alabama, 64 borrowed money to get out of November and Leeds was one of them. “We have completely gone through our fund balance and are into deficient spending for the month,” he said. “For the school board the lowest month of the year is always November.” Moore said that they anticipate getting out of the fiscal year at zero, which he believes is a blessing considering the situation that most school systems are in with the state of the economy;

•approving Resolution 2009-12-07 relating to heating and cooling at the Leeds Civic Center. The city received two quotes and awarded the lowest bidder at $5,375 to be paid out of city repairs;

•approving Resolution 2009-12-08 for a payment plan for delinquent taxes for a local company for $2,700. The repayment will be 12 consecutive months at $240.77 a month. Councilman Ross Bartee voted no;

•denying Resolution 2008-12-09 relating to a business who asked to waiver a penalty on unpaid taxes amounting in $6,400.62;

•approving Resolution 2009-12-10 relating to fixed costs reasonably incurred on the demolition of a structure and assessing the same against the underlying property. The resolution is part of the Brasher property demolition;

•approving funds for the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast, which is budgeted at $1,500.

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