Residents in the Austin Bottom Community can expect to see law enforcement patrols a little more often over the next few weeks.
In response to a public outcry, the sheriff’s department will be stepping up patrols at least through the end of the summer boating season. The lake site in that area may also be added next year in the contract the Corps of Engineers has with the county for the sheriff’s department to provide extra patrols during the summer.
“They (public) are concerned about activities that have been going on there at the lake access at Austin Bottom. It was a pretty spirited discussion (at public meeting last Tuesday). Basically what is going to happen right now is that the sheriff is going to increase patrols out in that area. I have talked to Center Hill Lake Resource Manager Kevin Salvilla and he will try to include that area next year in our law enforcement agreement to try and provide some money for that. We have in our law enforcement agreement now where the sheriff patrols the different campgrounds. He’ll (Salvilla) try to add some money there where that area can be patrolled more,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling during Monday night’s county commission meeting.
Last Tuesday, August 18, many residents in the Austin Bottom community of DeKalb County met with several local officials and the Corps of Engineers at the fire station there to vent their frustrations about public nuisance issues at a boat ramp in the area.
Resource Manager Salvilla took questions and comments from the group. County Mayor Stribling, Sheriff Patrick Ray, County Fire Chief Donny Green, and Fourth District County Commissioners Wayne Cantrell and Jonathon Norris were also there.
While most of the residents at the meeting said they don’t want the Putco Boat Ramp (Austin Bottom Lake Boat Access Area) closed, they would like to see more law enforcement to keep undesirables out.
Complaints range from issues of illegal drug activity, public intoxication, excessive noise during the night, using the area as a camp ground, non-boaters parking on the ramp preventing access, littering the area with beer bottles, cans, etc. One person was wounded in a recent shooting there. A contributing factor is that the lake level is lower than normal due to work on the dam which exposes more beach area for patrons to congregate.
Sheriff Ray said his officers patrol the area but residents are concerned about the time it takes DeKalb County law enforcement to respond if called. Because the community is cut off from the rest of the county due to the lake, residents say it could be as much as forty five minutes to an hour before help arrives.
DeKalb County has mutual aid agreements with surrounding counties including Putnam to assist in case of emergencies.
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