POLICE BEAT

We have recently experienced an increase in thefts in our residential areas. These thefts have occurred primarily from yards, unlocked vehicles, and open or unsecured garages. Several arrests have been made over the last few weeks of persons prowling around the neighborhoods in the early morning hours. I encourage everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to keep homes and vehicles secure and not to present an easy target to potential criminals. Almost all of the burglaries and/or thefts that we have had reported so far this year were crimes of opportunity and most would probably not have occurred if the victim’s doors and windows had been secured. Well-positioned outdoor lighting can also often be a successful deterrent to such crimes. Please report suspicious activity to the Police Department immediately!

The Town’s CodeRED system, which provides notifications such as evacuation orders, boil water notices, crime information, and other items of importance to the community was recently activated to notify residents of these residential thefts. If you primarily use a cell phone, are new to Indialantic, or have recently changed your phone number you may not be in the database to receive these important calls. Please remember that you can add a phone number to the system yourself by going to the Police web page at http://www.indialantic.com/contents/police/police.htm and clicking on the CodeRED link.  If you have more than one phone line you may receive calls to each one.  If you do not receive a call, do not want to receive calls in the future, have multiple phone lines and want a phone number added or deleted from the database, or just have a question about the Community Warning System, please contact Sergeant Michael Casey at 723-7788 or email at mcasey@indialantic.com

I would also like to congratulate your new Community Policing Officer, Officer Ryan Deschenes, who was recently chosen as the Indialantic Police Officer of the Year for 2007. If you run into him, please convey your appreciation for his hard work and dedication!

Troy W. Morris, Chief of Police

Discuss Fences and Walls

Fences and walls proposed for residential front yards will be the topic of the May 27, 2008, Town Zoning & Planning Board meeting.  The public is encouraged to attend and voice support or concerns at this meeting.

Recent discussions have included the possibility of permitting six foot high masonry walls along Riverside Drive and/or three to four foot high picket fences in the front setback area in other residential sections of Town.  Interest has generated in this topic as a means to lessen motor vehicle noise due to increased levels of traffic, provide increased security, and enable residents to better utilize front yards for children to play.

Those unable to attend this informal discussion with the Zoning & Planning Board at 5:30 p.m. on May 27, which will be held in Town Hall, are encouraged to forward comments to the Zoning & Planning Board c/o the Town Clerk in Town Hall or at leaton@indialantic.com. 

Town Public Works assists representatives of Sunbelt Metals, Inc. install the new bench swing at Riverside Park.  The swing is part of a $50,000 FRDAP grant.  The concrete columns were installed by Don Bo, Inc.

ü    Town Hall will be closed Monday, May 26^th for Memorial

      Day

John Howard lays sod after forming a swale in the street right-of-way at 235 Michigan Avenue.  The owner of the business at 311 Sixth Avenue recently installed a swale and new plants in the Town right-of-way.

Property owners desiring to have a swale installed should contact Public Works Director Ron Cassedy at 984-5224.

Brevard County Lifeguards will be manning Indialantic’s two beach towers from 10 am to 5 pm as follows:

Spring Break -  April 5 – April 13

Summer coverage – June 2 – August 17

Weekends – April 19 – September 1

Colored flags will be posted on each tower and on the flag pole at Fifth and Wavecrest to let swimmers know the ocean conditions as follows:

Green – calm water; no hazards known

Yellow – light surf; swimmers should use caution; 

Red – rough waters; can also mean there are sharks close to shore or strong rip currents.

Blue – marine pest warning; pests can include sea lice, jellyfish or sharks

Double red – dangerous conditions; do not enter the  water

Turtle Awareness

Each summer, Florida beaches host the largest gathering of nesting sea turtles in the United States.  Emerging hatchlings leave their sand nests and scramble to the ocean – a journey too often disrupted by their attraction to artificial lighting.

To protect hatchlings, please remember that the Town Code states that no artificial lighting may illuminate any area of the beach after 9:00 pm from May 1^st through October 31^st. It is also unlawful to remove sea turtles or their eggs from the beach or to disturb turtle nests.

For more information regarding sea turtles or turtle walks, contact the Sea Turtle Preservation Society at 676-1701 or www.seaturtlespacecoast.org.

The Indialantic Record is published every other month by the Town of Indialantic, 216 Fifth Avenue, Indialantic, FL  32903 at an outside cost of $.22 per resident. Robert L. Cochran, Jr., Mayor; Vince Benevente, Deputy Mayor; Councilmembers   Dave Berkman,  Loren Goldfarb and Lori Halbert; Christopher W. Chinault, Town Manager; Laura Eaton, Town Clerk –www.indialantic.com  - 321-723-2242