Pride in Enid

Pride In Enid Project
"Enid Beautification is our Responsibility"

PRESS RELEASE - Tuesday, April 29, 2003 (KGWA)

Reminder of Dynamics

· Pre-release workers for the DOC are cleaning up city property, with paid City of Enid Employee's as supervisors; they are working on city property.

· Business and Civic groups, Churches, individuals, anyone who wants to organize (radio disc jockey's), and help the property owners who are older, disabled, and financially incapable to bring their property in compliance.

Special Thank You

· We want to thank Oakwood Christian Church for their group cleanup effort at 106 W Chestnut (hopefully this will challenge others). In addition, an individual who does not care to be recognized has volunteered to take care of a property for the entire summer.

New Procedures

· CDSA through CDBG has allocated 11,000 dollars a year to develop the "Pride in Enid Project Assistance Program." This money will not last long. Therefore, I must rely heavily on volunteer groups. I can only use this money as a last resort!

Public Awareness

· We have produced a flyer for distribution before we move into a sub-zone. This should provide the customer the "overall picture" of the project. However, I am continuing Public Speaking at request. Sgt. David Gibson designed a web page that is user friendly and should answer most of your questions. www.enid.org , click on the Pride in Enid Program link. If you are listening and interested in me explaining our project to your organization, please contact me!!!!!

Funding

· Chief West did not budget the program this fiscal year. He has a "big stake" in our project and is persistent on its longevity. He has spent around 6,000 dollars on equipment, and added my salary to his budget.

· EPD is over budget this year! I am brainstorming on ideas to produce funds for items like the flyers, billboards, pamphlets, etc… (Decals like Chamber of Commerce.) If anyone is interested in donating funds, please contact me to get this started.

PRESS RELEASE - Tuesday, April 8, 2003

First "Volunteer Group" Assisted Property

The first "Volunteer Group" assisted property clean up will begin Saturday, April 12, 2003, at 0800 hours. Oakwood Christian Church, located at 401 N. Oakwood, has coordinated effort with their membership to assist 106 W. Chestnut. This is a great "stepping stone" for our project!" Hopefully, it will promote and challenge other organizations to get involved in our efforts.

PRESS RELEASE - Wednesday, March 27, 2003

Changes in the program

Work Task Force

The City of Enid is providing the "onsite job coordinator and crew supervisors" for the work task force. They are using seasonal and full-time city employees, and absorbing the cost. This is a huge advantage, and relieves my need to recruit volunteers for that part of the program.

Public Awareness

I am now focused heavily on promoting public awareness by more public presentations and recruiting for "volunteer group cleanup effort." Furthermore, we are producing a "hand out flyer" describing the program and dynamics. It is our intent to ensure the customers know the process before our officers move into the sub-zone.

New funding for qualified customer assistance cleanup

Community Development Support Association (CDSA) has allocated funds and developed the Pride in Enid Assistance Program. The web site explains the funding and application process.

Web site

The web site is currently under construction by Sgt. Gibson. He has designed a very professional site. The content of the material should answer most of the customer's questions, and help ensure public awareness.

Current Volunteer Group Resource List

Local 3722 Firefighters Union, Fraternal Order of Police Union, Johnson's of Enid, Salvation Army, NAACP, Noon Ambucs, American Refrigeration, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and Southwestern Bell-(Mike Cooper's Group)

PRESS RELEASE - January 7th 2003

Work Force

Currently the program is operating utilizing seasonal & full-time city employees as supervisors and the Department of Corrections pre-release inmates as a work task force. We need to thank Chief West and the city administration for allowing this expenditure; they are spending a large amount of money using city equipment and employees. We need to recognize long time city employee Charlie Runkle who is our on-site job coordinator. Runkle and his crews are responsible for the progress you are seeing currently.

Volunteers

My goal for early 2003 is to focus heavily on recruiting. We certainly have not done enough promoting to ensure public awareness. I will be asking business and civic groups to allow me to speak at their meetings. We have somewhere around a dozen volunteers for supervisors. Most of which came from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. However, this part of the program is going to be seasonal.

Community Policing

Our officers are policing the city for code violations. From October-December 2002, they produced approximately 200 reports. Within these reports there are probably around 400 code violations. This is just the "Tip of the iceberg"! The code department is being bombed with violations.