COLUMBUS, Ind.–Earlier this week, the city heard concerns from residents in East Columbus regarding a growing number of incidents involving homeless individuals in the area. On Monday evening at Columbus City Hall, Mayor Jim Lienhoop, Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde, and council member Dascal Bunch met with the public to listen and provide feedback. Many neighbors of the Brighter Days Housing homeless shelter feel that the facility attracts people who commit unsightly acts on their residential property.
While Chief Rohde assured residents that patrols would be increased, Mayor Lienhoop and others agreed that there are no easy, immediate solutions to this problem. Bunch believes that the colder months will provide the neighborhood a break from the extra foot traffic, hopefully giving officials time to form a better response come springtime.
The Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety on Tuesday morning approved an agreement with contractor Rundell Ernstberger and Associates, Inc., for the design and construction of a “Bicycle Boulevard” as a PeopleTrail connection along 17th Street from Noblitt Park to Donner Park, and on 19th Street from Donner Park to Lincoln Park. Under the agreement, payment for the project is not to exceed $115,000.