In The News

from The Telegraph
April 28, 2008

Weed and Seed digs for funds
Future depends on benefits, grants

By Linda Weller

For The Telegraph/MAX GERSH   Alton Weed and Seed site director Bruce Bertolino tightens a banner inside the old St. Patrick's School building Friday afternoon, while setting up for a weekend trivia night.

The Telegraph

ALTON - With the city axing funding for the Alton Weed and Seed strategy April 1, the program's future rests on fund-raisers, donations and attempts to get grant money.

The most recent effort was Saturday's trivia night, sponsored by the Alton Weed and Seed Steering Committee, at which organizers expected to raise $5,000.

Meeting that goal would allow the program to continue through July.

"People have responded incredibly," said site coordinator Bruce Bertolino, whose appointment was recently extended to June 30 by the City Council.

A large part of the uncertainty over the future of the neighborhood revitalization strategy is how long Bertolino and the Steering Committee can raise money to pay for his salary and benefits.

Alton Mayor Don Sandidge said he would continue reappointing Bertolino, 44, as he and the committee raise money to support the program. Sandidge said previously that once federal money ran out, he would like to spread Weed and Seed to other neighborhoods, particularly on the East End.

"There (previously) was only funding until June 2," Sandidge said. "Bruce is trying to raise money. We are in a budget crunch and the state is not sending money on time; this is something we had to do. If he can't make up the money, we can't keep him."

Bertolino said he makes $42,000, but his benefit package kicks the cost up to $60,000 per year. He said he applied for two grants but did not get either of them. He said he is talking to "private foundations and working some political angles" to obtain funding. He admitted it is hard to do his job while also having to "chase money" to cover his salary, which he said is a full-time job in itself.

The U.S. Department of Justice oversees the five-year, collaborative neighborhood revitalization programs in cities with blight and certain levels of crime and poverty. Efforts must target certain neighborhoods; in Alton it was in the inner-city Mexico, Hunterstown and Middletown areas.

Competition is strong among cities to win the Justice Department's designation as a Weed and Seed site and the accompanying lucrative funding. Alton's federal funding ended Sept. 30, 2006. It received $1,075,000 over five years' time.

The city was able to spread out that money and also use Police Department funds to carry the program through this March 31.

In light of Alton's financial problems, the City Council passed a budget for fiscal year April 1, 2008-March 31, 2009, without funding for Weed and Seed. The Alton Police Department, though, provided $10,000 and the city gave another $10,000 in benefits.

If Bertolino leaves, the city will need to find someone to perform those tasks so Alton can maintain its designation as a "graduated" Weed and Seed site - which gives it credibility and makes it easier to get grants, said Alton Police Chief Chris Sullivan.

Sandidge said many cities use police officers to continue their Weed and Seed programs, but Sullivan said his preference is to keep Bertolino.

"We think it is very important that the site coordinator be maintained to remain a Weed and Seed site and use that name," Sullivan said. "It's a program aldermen have supported and the city has supported the last five years; we've put a lot of time and effort into it. It's become the way we do business."

As an example, an offshoot is the Nuisance Abatement Task Force, with police, Alton Building and Zoning, animal control and the city attorney. Members conduct monthly "knock and talk" visits to properties with suspected drug activity or code violations, or where they have received complaints all over the city.

As result of the task force, the city enacted a "three-strikes" ordinance that penalizes owners of nuisance properties.

Another related program is Lewis and Clark Community College's Family Learning Center in the old St. Patrick's school. Weed and Seed also uses the Ridge Street Community Center/Safe Haven for neighborhood anti-crime meetings.

Bertolino said other groups, especially the Alton School District, obtained grants because of the Weed and Seed program.

"I think we've done a great job in doing some things; we've made things better, but there still is a lot of work to do," Bertolino said. He said he would like to see even more "community policing," with officers spending more time walking and riding bicycles in the three neighborhoods. Their visibility helps officers know residents better when there are no incidents and discourages criminal activity, he said.

If the money doesn't come in and Bertolino leaves, Sullivan said a replacement site coordinator is necessary - whether a current city employee, someone affiliated with a partner business, agency, school district or college.

"It can be a full-time or part-time worker or community volunteer," he said. "It is imperative we have a coordinator to make sure all of the programs are coordinated, that the information gets out, the information is shared and the paperwork is filed each year. In addition, by meeting certain criteria, we have to have a site coordinator respond to received information."

Alton Weed & Seed Strategy
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