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sequence of costs to the County for the three years of the grant, <br />after which the County would fund the entire cost. He pointed out <br />that the higher cost in the first year is for start-up costs, <br />uniforms, guns, equipment and vehicles. <br />The Chairman opened the meeting for comments. <br />Bill Roolage, 11 Vista Garden Trail, was upset because the <br />major problems are not being addressed. He thought that the change <br />in our lifestyle, with single parent homes, or homes where both <br />parents work outside the home, places children in situations <br />without supervision. Perhaps the police force could be cut back if <br />we had a better home situation, a longer school day and year-round <br />classes, but in the meantime government must give their full <br />attention to these problems. He was concerned about the resource <br />officers being removed from the schools because he understood that <br />they filled a very important need. He urged the School Board and <br />the Board of County Commissioners to give attention to the after <br />school program. He did not want to see the COPE program or school <br />resource officers programs cut back. Mr. Koolage pointed out that <br />this is a community problem and he urged the Board to use good <br />sense and support the people who are working on the problem right <br />now. Every level of government along with PTA and individual <br />parents and citizens must cooperate and become involved in the <br />total situation. <br />Sergeant Leroy Smith, COPE Officer, came before the Board and <br />reported that various programs were started in the Gifford area <br />with the cooperation of the Recreation Department. The citizens <br />also have been successful in removing dilapidated buildings which <br />were used by drug dealers and prostitutes. He would like to see <br />this effort expanded to South County and North County because it <br />works and is well worth the money. <br />Victor Hart, 4659 34th Avenue, compared the crime areas of <br />Oslo, Wabasso and Gifford to infection in a human body which finds <br />the weakest spot and causes a lump or boil. By working with the <br />Sheriff we are trying to prevent that "boil" from forming in the <br />crime areas. He thought the Board would be surprised to see the <br />people going in and out of these crime areas who are not black and <br />who obviously do not live in these areas. He believed that the <br />COPE program will help stop crime not only in Gifford but also in <br />Johns Island, Sea Cove, Moorings, City of Vero Beach, Sebastian and <br />Fellsmere: He stressed that the way to stop the use of illegal <br />drugs is not to cut off a limb here and there, but to cut out the <br />root, meaning the illegal drug user, so there will be no need for <br />21 il <br />L_NOV 2 31993 <br />BOOK F'A..GE � <br />