City makes proclamations

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FAIRBORN – The City of Fairborn proclaimed the month of October as domestic violence awareness month, and Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 as diaper needs awareness week during its latest council meeting.

Mayor Dan Kirkpatrick said during the first proclamation, which was accepted by President Joan Dautel of the Family Violence Prevention Center, that one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

He added that between 820 and 1,100 adult women in Greene County experience physical intimate partner violence each year, compared to 639 who will be injured by motor vehicle crashes.

“[I] ask the citizens of Fairborn to assist this wonderful agency (Family Violence Prevention Center) by working toward the elimination of domestic violence,” Kirkpatrick said.

A candlelight vigil for the cause will take place Monday, Oct. 5 at Shawnee Park in Xenia. Dautel passed purple ribbons, which represents domestic violence awareness, to the mayor and each council member.

“It is a time where we come and reflect on those survivors and in memory of those who lost their lives from domestic violence,” Dautel said in relation to the vigil. “I urge you, if anyone is in trouble with domestic violence, if your life is in danger call 911. We also have a hot line; for Fairborn it’s 426-2334, 24 hours, 365 days a year.”

Executive Director Sarah Williams of Hannah’s Treasure Chest accepted the proclamation for diaper needs awareness week, which was the first time the city had recognized the cause.

“This is an important need in our community,” he said. “It’s something that we don’t think about but for a lower-income family, this can be a make-or-break thing.”

Kirkpatrick said 48 percent of parents will delay changing their children’s diapers in order to prolong resources, which impacts the health of the child. He added that according to national surveys, one in three mothers will experience diaper needs before the child turns three years old.

He urged citizens to donate to diaper banks and drives. Hannah’s Treasure Chest addresses the need for diapers, and is located in Centerville; Hannah’s Treasure Chest additionally offers a drop off area within the women’s center at Wright State University.

“A lot of people don’t realize that a baby’s necessity is not covered by WIC or food stamps or any type of federal [program],” Williams said. “It (diapers) is considered to be in the same category as cigarettes and alcohol and paper products, but a baby cannot be toilet trained at 2-days-old. A lot of people don’t realized that when a family has to make a choice between paying a utility bill or putting food on the table or getting gas in the car so they can get to work, they keep the baby in the diaper longer to [prolong resources]. We’re here to let people know and open everyone’s eyes that diaper needs are real and everyone goes through it – it’s not just lower-income families.”

In other areas of business, council is considering an ordinance that aims to reduce the amount of drug usage taking place within the city. The Fairborn Police Department has developed the public nuisance abatement ordinance, in which individuals who are involved in felonious drug use, prostitution, gambling and/or severe alcohol violations, will be asked to leave their residence within 15 days, and will not be allowed to return to the property for another 365 days.

If an officer is dispatched and comes to an area where those crimes are taking place, an arrest would usually be made and the supervisor on duty would be asked to investigate the property. If the supervisor finds that the resident has violated the ordinance from investigating the totality of the situation, the individual will be given a form that states that they must leave the property within 15 days.

Officers will return to the property to find whether or not the individual has left; if they have not, they will face with being charged with a misdemeanor of the third degree, which can result in up to 60 days in jail and a $700 fine. If tenants violate this ordinance, landlords will be notified in a timely manner. If the tenant refuses to leave within the given time frame, landlords would file an eviction.

However, some landlords raised concerns with the ordinance in regards to how it would impact them. Council members decided to vote on the matter at the next council meeting.

Whitney Vickers | Greene County News Members of council at the latest meeting, held Monday, Sept. 21.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/09/web1_council1.jpgWhitney Vickers | Greene County News Members of council at the latest meeting, held Monday, Sept. 21.

Sarah Williams, executive director of Hannah’s Treasure Chest, accepted the proclamation for Sept. 28 through Oct. 4 being diaper needs awareness week.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/09/web1_hannahs.jpgSarah Williams, executive director of Hannah’s Treasure Chest, accepted the proclamation for Sept. 28 through Oct. 4 being diaper needs awareness week.

Joan Dautel, president of the Family Violence Prevention Center, accepted the proclamation for the month of October being domestic violence awareness month.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/09/web1_fvpc.jpgJoan Dautel, president of the Family Violence Prevention Center, accepted the proclamation for the month of October being domestic violence awareness month.

By Whitney Vickers

[email protected]

Whitney Vickers can be reached by calling her directly at 937-502-4532, or by following her on Twitter by searching for @wnvickers. For more features online, visit our website at fairborndailyherald.com, or like our page on Facebook.

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