May 18--PLANT CITY -- It appears likely that Officer Mark Dunnam will continue to be a familiar sight in downtown and other areas.
Police Chief Bill McDaniel gave Dunnam a rousing endorsement in a review of his first year assigned to a beat that includes downtown, midtown and the city's public housing projects.
McDaniel told city commissioners at their May 14 meeting that Dunnam has developed a rapport with business owners and residents.
"He'll talk with anybody, and he takes what he hears and he follows up on it," McDaniel said.
The commissioners seemed inclined to approve funding the position for another year.
Vice Mayor Bill Dodson said he frequently sees Dunnam at community events and around town.
"He's a very personal young fellow," he said.
Other commissioners offered similar words of praise.
The position was created last year using money from the city's Community Redevelopment Agency. McDaniel assigned Dunnam, who has worked for the police department for about three years.
It will cost about $65,000, including salary, benefits and related costs, to continue the position for 2012-13, City Manager Greg Horwedel said. It will be money well spent, Horwedel said.
Dunnam has been commended numerous times since joining the police department. In the last year, he headed up a task force that targeted unconfined vicious dogs -- an investigation that also led to arrests on drug and utility theft charges and was voted by his peers as officer of the month for August.
Crime in the Community Redevelopment Area is down in the last 12 months, including burglaries, which dropped from 154 to 112, and robberies, which declined from 14 to 10, McDaniel said. While the entire police department contributed to the decline in crime, Dunnam played a key role by developing sources.
"When the people get to know you, they talk to you. When people talk to you, they give you (important) information," the chief said.
In other action at the May 14 meeting, city commissioners:
* Voted to spend nearly $77,000 to reinforce an eroding section of the Eastside Canal. The city will pay Adkins Contracting to build a concrete retaining wall on the canal between Baker and Vermont streets. The company is already working to refurbish the canal, which drains the east side of town.
* Voted to change the city's long-range growth plan to accommodate a new use for a vacant church property on Thonotosassa Road, north of Southern Oak Drive. The change to light commercial/office would allow as much as 37,000 square-feet of offices on the 2.4 acres at 2108 Thonotosassa Road. The owner, E & L Investment Co., intends to build doctors offices at the site.
Horwedel told commissioners that a recent program that allowed patrons of Bruton Memorial Library to exchange canned food in lieu of overdue fines has been very successful. A total of 716 pounds of food was accumulated during the Food for Fines drive, he said. The food was donated in lieu of about $600 in fines. Some patrons who didn't owe fines brought in food to help out, the city manager added. The food will help support the school district's summer nutrition program in this area, Horwedel said.
Copyright 2012 - Tampa Tribune, Fla.
