November Update: Inmates to work & Pastor of the Day

Well I just wanted to post a few updates.  This last Council meeting the Council approved an item, as well as implemented an item I have been working on.

The first item was to renew a Memorandum of Understanding with the OK County Shine program. This will allow us to send our offenders to the county for punishment.  They will do hard labor that includes cleaning roadsides, ditches, and removing debris and underbrush from dilapidated areas. This is beneficial for multiple reasons, among them adequately punishing offenders as well as making them improve the community they have damaged.  It's a win-win. This was an action item suggested by the Taskforce on Crime, Punishment, and Rehabilitation.


The second is the Pastor of the Day program.  I will be leading this effort and will invite local Pastors and Clergy to our meetings.  They will open our meetings in prayer.  It will also give us the opportunity to learn more about our local churches, as well as share information with them that they can take back to their Churches about municipal programs and opportunities for service.

Update - Oct 8

Happy Fall,

I have been really busy w the Crime, Punishment, and Rehabilitation Task force and haven't posted in a few weeks. Our task force has concluded, and I will be presenting the findings at the next Council meeting.  After that, I will begin bringing actual policy changes to the Council for their consideration.  The first two things I will be addressing will include drug testing policies as well as mandatory hard community service/labor for offenders.  I will keep introducing items off the task force list throughout the coming weeks and months.  If you would like a copy of the report, feel free to let me know.

Please call if you have questions and concerns.

Daniel McClure

405-919-5730

Crime and Punishment Taskforce Meeting

We had our second meeting of the Crime and Punishment Taskforce last night. I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to have such a great group of people helping us out on this effort.  When people have their hearts in the right place good things happen, and that's this group! We had a large number of recommendations including topics such as changes to drug testing policies, rehabilitation/reintegration concepts, and "sweat community service" (working hard as service and punishment).

I thought it was our last meeting and had planned to submit our report. HOWEVER the group did not like that idea :)  They want to have one more meeting to wrap up their thoughts and submit final reports.  We will meet at the end of the month, and then it's time to get to work on their recommendations.

Return of the Trash Debate

Last night at the Council meeting we heard a proposal to raise the bulk rate trash pickup fees.  This was the same proposal we heard a few months ago.  At that time I asked for some specific numbers that outlined the expenses and revenue generated from the operation.  If a program has a cost I am more than supportive of the person who uses the service paying for it.  I simply wanted to adequately explore the figures and come to a balanced and fair conclusion.

I was provided data (see below), and the numbers were not entirely correct.  As a result I have asked for the numbers to be revised to accurately reflect the situation to help us make a better decision.  It appears from the data that the program was $26K in the red in 2011, and has improved the numbers significantly and last year was just over $9.9K in the red.

My concerns left to address on this issue are...
1. If we raise the cost for pickup will less people use it?
2. There is a benefit to a neighborhood when someone with a messy residence cleans up their place.
3. What is the dollar amount needed on the rate increase needed to cover the program cost adequately?


I will report back to you when I get the information. I would love your feedback on the issue.  This is one where both sides of the idea have valid concerns.

Daniel


*currently the charge is $35/ half hour.  Below are the numbers on that, as well as proposed changed to higher amounts.  This information was provided by city staff.

MWC Embedded DHS Caseworker Program

At this weeks Council meeting we approved an agenda item that will place a DHS Caseworker in our city full time. This DHS social worker will assist in the assessment of child abuse and neglect cases, and work hand in hand with our police department. The agreement will also provide twenty-four hour access to an OKDHS social worker, streamline the tedious process and enable our agency to place children who are in protective custody into familiar homes or with relatives versus state shelters. This allows the Midwest City Police Department and OKDHS to become stronger advocates for abused and neglected children through a collaborative effort.  This program will be provided at no cost to MWC residents, and will be fully funded by DHS.*

I am very optimistic about this program, and am thankful for everyone who helped put it together.  It should be a great resource for our community and individuals in times of need.





*Information provided from the MWC Council meeting agenda packet, please contact me if you have additional questions.

City Wide Garage Sale Proposal

I am really excited about the item I have on the City Council agenda tonight!  I have had several requests for MWC to have a City wide garage sale.  We have had a few conversations about it at Council meetings, and the City staff has prepared all of the Code changes to make this possible.

 I love the idea of events that give residents the opportunity to meet each other throughout our different neighborhoods, as well as the opportunity to bring people from other places to MWC. I will present it tonight.

Thanks everyone who gave me feedback on this concept.-Daniel

UPDATE:

The measure failed, 2-5.  I couldn't get the rest of the Council on Board.  Councilwoman Price Allen did support the idea, and I appreciated her comments on constant dedication to creativity and trying new things.  I will rework it and try it again.

Taskforce on Crime, Punishment, and Rehabilitation

Throughout my campaign many residents mentioned they would like to see us take steps towards lowering crime in MWC.  My first step towards this effort was creating the Taskforce on Crime, Punishment, and Rehabilitation.  This is a group of residents who have volunteered to gather information and generate ideas.

We held our first meeting last week, and had wonderful presentations by City Staff.  We had the City Prosecutor, Police Chief, Jail Ministries, Juvenile Services, and Neighborhood Services represented to name a few. Out of those conversations came a number of follow up questions by the Taskforce Members, and answers to their questions are being assembled by City Staff.    The next meeting will be where the members share their ideas.  I look forward to receiving their feedback.

Thanks again for everyone who is participating in this effort!

Daniel