DOVER — City Councilmen David Anderson and Roy Sudler Jr. will host a meeting Thursday night for 4th District residents to discuss violence in the community, among other topics.
The meeting is set for 7-9 p.m. at Solid Rock Baptist Church Community Center, 113 N. West St.
David Anderson
“We’re calling this an emergency meeting,” Mr. Sudler said. “We usually have a quarterly meeting, but the residents came to us and told us they wanted this meeting.
“A bullet was shot into the window of a resident on Kirkwood Street after a party at the Elks Lodge in Dover,” he explained. “They made a complaint to the city about it and they forwarded it to us, so we decided to have a meeting about it.”
Last month a 41-year-old man was shot in the leg while standing near the Elks Lodge at 217 N. Kirkwood St.
Authorities said the shots were fired in the direction of the wounded man and others outside the Elks Lodge.
Mr. Sudler said residents might take action to close the Elks Lodge.
“They believe it’s not a good fit in the community,” he said. “A lot of crime goes on there during parties and it sounds like people on Kirkwood Street are fed up with it. It’s not an issue that’s new. It’s a reoccurring issue.”
Mr. Sudler hopes to also discuss the Dover off-road vehicle ordinance, which seemed to be a concern among residents.
“On State College Road, about three houses from the courtyard, there’s residents or renters that have been shooting firecrackers,” Mr. Sudler said.
Roy Sudler Jr.
“I heard it when I was home and went over there to talk to them. Then I got a complaint from an elderly lady, who has lived in that neighborhood for over 60 years ( about people) riding dirt bikes.
“I did some research on the noise ordinance and found that there was an off-vehicle ordinance that requires (that) any person with an ATV or dirt bike can’t ride on personal property unless it has been registered with the city and have a license on that property. They also have to wear a helmet.”
Mr. Sudler said if a resident receives three citations within 12 months the city will make the landlord evict that resident.
He hopes to inform residents about this ordinance during the meeting.
“We want to ensure a better way life for all people,” Mr. Sudler said. “They may not know this exists and I just want to educate them, so they can use this as a tool to combat crime and criminal mischief.”