Marchant to 'crack down on crime-ridden apartments'

CARROLLTON -- During the June 21 city council meeting, the council approved an ordinance to set rules and guidelines for apartment complexes in Carrollton to help get rid of crime and keep families safe.

"Cracking down on crime-ridden apartments" was one of Mayor Matthew Marchant's main campaigning slogans. He said he heard that from numerous residents throughout the city and is glad the council could quickly address the issue.

"Right after I got elected, I met with the chief of police and our code enforcement staff, and we worked together to craft an ordinance that will address crime in our apartment complexes and around the complexes," Marchant said. "I think the council is very excited we got that passed very quickly."

The ordinance calculates a crime ratio for each apartment complex. Marchant said to get the ratio, you take the number of service calls that come from the complex, add the number of residents in the complex who have an arrest record, and then divide that number by the number of units in the complex.

"Depending on what the number is, if the complex is over a certain threshold, the complex will get entered into the crime reduction program," Marchant said. "The threshold for a complex is 1.25 times the average number that is yielded for all apartments. Say the average number for apartments is 17; if your complex is 1.25 times above 17, the complex gets entered into the program."

Marchant said there is a host of things that a complex will have to comply with if they are entered into the program. First, they must post a notice saying the complex is in a high-crime area. In addition, depending on how serious the crime rate is in the complex, they will have to hold crime watch meetings and conduct background checks, along with other safety precautions.

"We are focused on crime reduction," Marchant said. "We have done a preliminary check to see what the threshold would be. However, the threshold is updated every six months. Apartment complexes now have six months to get in order before they will be entered into the program."

Marchant said the official threshold number for apartments will be released Jan. 1.

"There will be a penalty system for complexes that do not comply with the ordinance," Marchant said. "However, we will work with the apartment complexes to make sure that the residents of Carrollton are safe."

On Monday, the Carrollton City Council filled its two empty seats and completed the long electoral process by swearing in Anthony Wilder and Bob Garza.

Two places on the city council went to a runoff this year, Places 2 and 4. Wilder won the runoff election for Place 2, and Garza won the Place 4 seat. Both brought their families in front of the council as they were sworn in.

"I am thrilled and honored that the voters have entrusted me to serve them and the other citizens of Carrollton as a council member," Wilder said after the runoff election.

"It is extremely humbling to have been elected to council as a newcomer by the Carrollton voters. It has been quite an experience but in the end was well worth the time and effort required," Garza added.

Marchant extended his congratulations to Wilder and Garza as well.

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