Diamondhead Community Safety Committee Meeting 10-11-17
Members Present Allan Magee, Chair Steve Still Bryan Guilbeau Mike Wynn Dennis Hannan Melanie Landrum Thomas Goad, Deputy Diamondhead PD Gary Pritsch, Board Liaison
Allan: First Responder trainer was not available to meet with us this evening but will be able to train some folks to be First Responders. He thinks that we should go ahead and talk about this and come up with a budget. There could already be people in Diamondhead that are trained as First Responders or medical personnel. We can survey through Nextdoor, Constant Contact or Diamondhead Facebook/Blog (Diane Porterfield).
Steve: Trying to understand scope of the issue of not having First Responders since Fire Department is available for this purpose.
Allan: Recalled a situation this last year where it was 30 minutes before the Fire Department arrived.
Gary: Got email from David that stated that there was no officer on duty on a Saturday morning, which was why the response time was slow. (Question was asked to Gary why we had no First Responder on site at this emergency.)
Steve: Before we start talking about paying people, we need to know what we already have and what are the gaps. We need to know the current situation. Define problem and then make recommendations on how to correct it.
Allan: Need to have more information before we talk about budgeting for it.
Still trying to get a third bid on the gate. Elite Fence out of Malvern and Benton Fence Company were the two that he talked to about this. Elite Fence said that we
couldn’t have a gate that automatically closed immediately. Allan dismissed Elite Fence after this since the Safety Committee has actually seen a system like this. Benton Fence Company is coming by Friday to discuss possibilities.
Bryan: Shared his experience with the current gate. He and his wife were entering gate area, two cars parked one behind the other nosed up to the “leggo” gates, when he got close enough to the gate to trigger the gates, both cars immediately entered. Is this going to still be a problem with our new gate design.
Allan: Could make the reader closer. Could also illuminate the gate, put sign and camera up to discourage this behavior also.
Bryan: We can agree that we are going to do the best we can do, realizing that nothing is going to be perfect.
Allan: If gates open out, that will help nosing up to the gate also adding signage and light.
The group revisited the proposal about two gates, one for visitors and one for residents. Want to revisit this discussion with vendors. Several options for addressing issues were discussed and Bryan said to bring this up to potential vendors.
Discussion was held about pin numbers and access code management with nonresidents and how to keep them viable. Vendors, construction companies, etc. should have their codes managed. Also, discussed the fact that the “leggo” gates cannot close any more quickly and that the company that installed them is not interested in maintaining them or working with our community.
Bryan: Asked the committee if they want Neighborhood Watch to be one of the goals of our committee? If so, he will be the point person on this goal. If we can do anything legal that helps increase security in our community, we should.
Thomas: Said that there are pro’s and con’s with Neighborhood Watches. Do not want neighbors trying to detain people.
Bryan: Described how he thinks the process would work. No confrontations. Chief Tyner could vet all members.
Steve: Definitely doesn’t want to increase Diamondhead’s liability with any issues related to Neighborhood Watch.
Gary: Reported that we will take the old stickers with no date and put them on Diamondhead resident’s cars. He brought it up at the last board meeting and will let the board know at the next meeting the date that we will put the new stickers on the cars. November 3-4 will be the date the new stickers will be placed on the cars.
Next Meeting: November 15 @ 6 p.m.
Bryan will report on Neighborhood Watch research. Allan will get First Responder trainer to present.
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