About 60 homeowners and residents of the 3rd Ward met with city officials Sunday and formed a steering committee to address problems of vandalism, noise and garbage.

Residents expressed concerns about their neighborhood to DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow, 3rd Ward Alderman William Hanna, Acting Community Director William Nicklas and DeKalb Police Detective Jim Rhoades. City officials addressed questions about law enforcement and housing codes.

The meeting was initiated by the 3rd Ward Coalition, a group of homeowners and single women concerned about property values and safety.

“What you are doing tonight is a first step,” Sparrow said. “You are giving us tools to work with, whether it is law enforcement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of certain segments of the neighborhood.”

Problems discussed at the meeting included crime, vandalism, trucks and cars parked in yards and on sidewalks, deteriorating buildings, unkept yards, irresponsible landlords, excess garbage and stray animals.

Nicklas distributed maps of the ward and asked residents to indicate problem areas. “There are codes that enforce better standards,” Nicklas said. “The reality is—I need your help.”

Sparrow said, “We’re sitting there at city hall. We don’t always see the types of things you see. We appreciate these types of input.”

Safety was a factor for several women who work late at night. They discussed fears of returning home because men wander the streets “drunk or obviously drunk and yelling obscenities.”

Representing the DeKalb police, Rhoades said, “If there is a condition that warrants it, we will be happy to arrest people.”

One resident said an intersection at 11th Street and Pleasant Street is dangerous because a tree blocks a driver’s view of a stop sign. City officials said they would look into that situation.

Problems with gangs were cited by resident Dan Seymour. “I’ve seen some houses police have been to every night,” he said. “There are gang fights. I’ve called code enforcement because the grass was mowed only once or twice (during the summer) in the house behind me.”

Sparrow said DeKalb does not have a gang problem.

Marshall Hayes, owner of Spot Lite Food Mart, 1029 Pleasant St., agreed. He said the 3rd ward does not have a gang problem or a ghetto problem, although “there were a couple of roughnecks raising hell.” He said his solution was to inform parents, and the problems ceased.

Roy Twed of Pleasant Street said, “It (deteriorating neighborhoods) is a problem—it’s something the city’s overlooked for a long time.”

Hanna said, “We can’t solve a problem we don’t know about.”

The committee will pinpoint the areas in the ward causing problems, such as excess garbage and cars parked in yards, said Jean Hydrick, one of the founders of the coalition. One of its initial goals will be looking up addresses in the city directory of people that have to be approached about better housekeeping, she said.