Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge tax relief, cleanup follow-up and better street lighting at Jamestown council meeting
Summary
Speakers at Jamestown’s public-comment period urged the council to curb tax increases cited as driving people and businesses away, requested follow-up on volunteer neighborhood cleanups, and pressed for more street lighting after a rise in crime; one resident offered to pay for a Festivus pole for downtown.
Jamestown’s City Council heard a string of public comments about taxes, neighborhood cleanups and street safety during the meeting’s public-comment period.
Anthony Tiller, who identified himself as living at 144 Clifton Avenue, told the council that a pattern of tax increases has harmed the local economy. “When you overtax, people leave, businesses leave, there’s no employment,” he said, arguing that a shrinking tax base leads to condemned properties and foreclosures. Tiller urged the city to pursue tax reductions and economic development to rebuild the real-property tax base rather than further rate increases.
Other residents praised recent volunteer cleanup efforts and asked when city crews would pick up trash volunteers collected on residential streets. A resident who asked about a cleanup on Saturday was told that parks staff would inspect the sites and follow up the next day. “Dan Stone said he would come up tomorrow and check it out to see what needs to be picked up,” a staff member told the speaker.
A neighbor who identified themself as Braden Court of 301 East State Street thanked the council for the cleanup but reported a recent stabbing and increasing burglaries on Lakeview and East 8th Street. The speaker urged the council to add street lighting on Fulton, describing the corridor as very dark and a place where drug activity occurs. “It’s like we’re at a war right now, you know, with the people that are on drugs,” the resident said, pressing city staff to evaluate pole locations. A city staff member said crews would inspect existing poles, collect pole numbers and coordinate with the Board of Public Utilities and the public-safety committee.
Separately, David Gonzales of 375 Fairmont Avenue proposed installing, at his own expense, a Festivus pole this Christmas near the downtown tree or lobby area as a lighthearted addition tied to Jamestown’s National Comedy Center identity. Councilors asked for details on the proposed material and placement.
The public-comment portion concluded with staff commitments to inspect cleanup sites and lighting, and with requests from residents for further follow-up. The council moved on to committee reports and agenda business.
