Union County - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

Traffic citations climbin StallingsHomeowners’ associationsask for ‘zero tolerance’policyby Brian Carltonbrian@unioncountyweekly.comWhen Stallings Police Chief MichaelDummett went to meet with homeownersassociations earlier this year, theyhad one overwhelming request; to crackdown on traffic.“We get a lot of complaints from ourresidents,” Callonwood HomeownersAssociation President Fred Weber said.“People just ignore the stop signs.”Weber said in Callonwood, he believesmost of the speeders are subdivisionresidents, just in a rush to get to workor drop off kids at school. Either way,Weber said, he was concerned aboutsafety. As he was driving, Weber witnessedsomeone pull out of their driveway,then speed through two stop signsas they left the subdivision.Over the past month, Stallings policeofficers issued 283 traffic citations, upfrom 79 in March, Dummett told thetown council during their Monday, May9 meeting.“I believe in giving people what theywant,’ Dummett said. “If I come to a(homeowners’ association) and youdemand we write tickets for speeding,I’m gonna give you all the medicine youcan handle.”Dummett said in meeting with the differentassociations, traffic was a majorfocus, with groups asking for a zero tolerancepolicy in traffic enforcement.“We’re very satisfied,” Weber said. “Ihave seen officers ride through heremore often, we’ve seen fewer peoplespeeding.”Associations throughout the townposted notices on their websites andthrough emails, informing residents ofthe change.“We told our residents to be aware,that we asked the police department tocrack down on speeding,” Weber said.“If they get a ticket, it’s because theywere breaking the law.”Callonwood is a special case, in thatpart of the subdivision is in Stallings anda portion is in Indian Trail. Weber saidthe association hasn’t received any complaintsfrom the Stallings side and justa few from homeowners in the IndianTrail portion. qIndian Trail getssecurity updatePros, cons of suggestionspresentedby Brian Carltonbrian@unioncountyweekly.comNewsIndian Trail’s town council needsmore information before completinga safety plan. That was the consensusduring the board’s Tuesday, May 10meeting, after hearing from town managerJoe Fivas and Union County Sheriff’sOffice Lt. Chase Coble.At the council’s April meeting, theyasked staff to start working on pieces todevelop a new safety and security plan.Part of that included installing lightsoutside the town civic building, wherecouncil meetings routinely end late atnight. Currently there is limited lightingin the area. Fivas told the councilDuke Energy would install lights withinthe next six weeks.“That’s our goal, that everybody is safewhile we’re here,” Indian Trail MayorPro Tem Jeff Goodall said. Goodall ranthe meeting, as Mayor John Quinn wasabsent.Designating certain parking spacesfor each council member was also finalized,Fivas said. Other portions of theproposed safety plan, including bringingin metal detectors, could also bring newissues with them, Coble cautioned.“They’re all great ideas (but) you createa secondary problem,” Coble said.Installing a metal detector would preventa gun from being brought in, but italso means any residents who attend themeetings would have to wait in line.“You certainly wouldn’t want to go tothe courthouse and wait outside,” Coblesaid. “In the winter, how are we gonnatake care of the people out there in the20 degree weather?”A metal detector wand wouldn’twork, Coble said, because it would addeven more time to a delay, as deputieschecked to see what set the wand off.“It’s great to tell me there’s metal, butthen I’ve got to search, is that a key orbutton (setting it off)” Coble said.An X-ray machine could run around$26,000 Coble said, adding that was arough estimate.Council members asked for prices onwhat the machine would cost, as wellas estimates for video cameras to beinstalled in the parking lot and possible(see Safety on page 8)COSMETIC & RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY&beautifulCreatingsince 1990MaintainingSmilesTrust Matters.John Ruocco, DDSIt’s Your Health…Your Smile…Your ChoiceLet us help you understand the difference in “must do” ….“should do”…. and “could do” for your dental health.SanDi Ruocco, DDS8418 new Town Rd. , Waxhaw, nc704-843-2880now accepting new patientsat Ruocco Dental, we want you to be comfortable withevery oral health decision you make.call for your appointment todaywww.unioncountyweekly.comUnion County Weekly • May 13-19, 2011 • Page 3