By Pat Hammert/Staff Writer

The concept of the Pride Patrol will move forward despite a protest from a resident who said the idea reminded him of Germany in the 1930s when neighbors spied on neighbors.

El Reno City Council last week gave the nod to start soliciting an all-volunteer citizens patrol to scour neighborhoods for city code violations. City Councilwoman Julie Rozsypal, who initiated the concept, said she wants people to get involved in their city.

“This is something I’ve wanted to see ever since I moved here. I hear a lot of complaints on this issue and I will just put the challenge to them to get involved. The more people we have involved, the better.”

But Gary Kubala, who lives on South Miles Avenue, said, “It sounds like you are asking my neighbor to spy on me. They did that in 1930s Germany and in the 1940s here in the United States. I can see a zealot who has it in for his or her neighbor who will turn them in just for the fun of it.”

Kubala said he had dealt with code enforcement in the past when he was forced to demolish a dilapidated building on his property. He said he would not be joining Pride Patrol.

“This is what I consider the first step of a slippery slope, you might say,” he said.
Mayor James Moore assured Kubala that “we’ll see that this doesn’t turn into a Gestapo type of thing…”

Community Development Director Robert Coleman said he supports the concept if it will aid code enforcers who are stretched thin. But “we have to be really careful about the liability involved in such an endeavor.” He said he’d reserve judgment until the volunteer aspect has been tested.

“If we can just get one or two people that will take a real objective approach to the program, then it would work. One or two people can make an incredible difference,” in cracking down on such offenses as trashy yards, dilapidated buildings and cars parked illegally.

The city code enforcement officers must oversee 6,200 individually owned houses and buildings in town. Close to half is rental property which requires extra monitoring because of frequent occupant changes.

Coleman and three other employees enforce the community’s property maintenance and building codes, but they have other tasks aside from code enforcement.

Coleman said the volunteer must be dedicated to spending from eight to 16 hours a week on patrol. Code enforcement officers would train the volunteers who would then be organized by Council members within their various wards.

“The volunteers wouldn’t be allowed free reign and to avoid subjective monitoring we will give them a route to follow each week,” Coleman said. Also, no compensation will be made for fuel, he said.

Rozsypal said many residents have expressed their interest in helping the city. She said she hopes to expand the volunteer aspect of the Pride Patrol to incorporate beautification in the program that could include maintaining flower beds and adopting entrances to the city.

Those interested in volunteering can contact their City Council ward representative. Roszspal represents Ward 1; Tony Maldonado, Ward 2; Paul Atkins, Ward 3; and Debbie Harrison, Ward 4.