Upchurch Sands Neighbors

Community Meeting Notes - May 2, 2005

May 28, 2005

Sgt. Dickey from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Dept. came to speak with us about neighborhood crime and how to start a Neighborhood Watch Program. Here are some of his suggestions:

-We can go to the records dept. to get a list of the police calls in our neighborhood. By looking at the current list we determined that much of the crime in our neighborhood was not even reported. We must make an effort to call, so that police are aware & will patrol the neighborhood more frequently.

-We must establish a president and vice-president, and block captains for Community Watch. We would have to pay for the signs & any equipment ourselves, so we have to find a way to raise money.

-For speed-limit signs, we must contact DOT.

-There is an 11:00pm curfew for children age 15/under and the department will also check on truant children on school days if called.

-There is a noise ordinance law for excessive noise between 11pm-6am.

-There IS a leash control ordinance in Cumberland County. All pet owners must keep their pets on a leash or confined to their own property. Animal Control will respond to calls about stray animals, but you must be able to tell them where the animal is when they arrive.

-We can contact George Hatcher at the courthouse about abandoned houses that are unkept and about the burned house on Hypony.

-We can contact Roy Cooper in Raleigh about problems caused by Hometown Finance by their preditory lending practices. Someone suggested we call "10 On Your Side" to get the ball rolling.

The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, May 17th.