Graffiti damage - only $100

I was delighted to learn from Woodstock City Hall that the estimated cost to correct the graffiti damage done to the Hill St. water tower recently was only $100.

I had called Public Works first to ask what the estimated cost was, after I tried to estimate the total for repainting the several water tower legs and the small buildings under the tank. No estimate was available, so I called City Hall.

I was concerned that the cost might have been much higher, considering that probably at least two Public Works employees and a supervisor might have been involved, along with at least one truck and painting supplies, such as sandblasting equipment, primer, paint, brushes, cleaner. I didn't know whether two trips might have been required; one to prime, one to paint.

But the City got it all done for $100 - a very efficient and economical repair job. With costs at only $100, now I understand why there was no press release to the community and no contact with Crime Stoppers to offer a reward to catch the vandals.

Hopefully, Woodstock officers and detectives have identified the tagger(s) and that an arrest will be announced soon.

Vandals tag water tower

This week-end vandals tagged the Hill Street water tower, spraying graffiti on the legs of the tower and the buildings. Cost to the City for clean-up? $1,000? $2,000? More?

This is the kind of stupidity that must stop in Woodstock. It will only stop by residents' banding together and taking back our town. Young men and women are welcome here; all races, colors, etc. are welcome here. They are welcome here as long as they abide by the laws.

When they don't? They are no longer welcome here.
Somebody knows who is responsible for this. You can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 800.762.STOP. Provide the information confidentially and you should be given a Tip Number and instructions how to monitor the progress of the usefulness of your tip.

How fast will the Woodstock Area Crime Stoppers announce a reward? Does it even have any money available for a reward?

The vandals should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. How about 30 days in the County Jail? Sixty days? Make an example out of them and provide a deterrent for others. It's too bad they can't be caught immediately, tried and, if convicted, sentenced to clean up their juvenile tags.

These tags must be recognizable by the Woodstock Police. Which gang is responsible?

Will the police announce with which gang these symbols are connected? How about photos of gang members on the police department website?

There had to be more than one tagger involved. Didn't any of the neighbors notice or hear anything?