BY STACY SOBOTKA
Halloween on Tillson Street is the most anticipated event of the year in Romeo.
But a darker side to the beloved event was brought forward to the Romeo Village Board of Trustees meeting Nov. 15.
Resident Belinda Wietor shared a letter sent out to residents on Tillson regarding incidents that happened this past October. She and five other neighbors collaborated on the letter that was sent out.
Prior to her reading the letter, Romeo Village President Christine Malzahn urged anyone watching the meeting on the Internet what the community was about.
“This community is one with a reputation of kindness and caring. We are known to step up and help others in need, not bully or shame them for having a different opinion,” she said.
The letter read: “Halloween on Tillson Street used to be a fun neighborly event many of us looked forward to each year. This was many, many, many years ago and we think that everyone can admit that things have changed drastically. It has become increasingly overwhelmingly for most of the month of October with the ever-present huge crowds as well as the never-ending vehicular traffic. Those of us who live close to the Dairy Queen and now The Rainbow Connection have a very unique and different experience than most on Tillson Street. Imagine how you would feel with a larger, boisterous crowd hanging around just outside your front door from 8 a.m. in the morning until after midnight.”
Police have been called for blocked driveways, verbal abuse, stolen or damaged decorations, and litter ranging from empty beer cans to dog waste to used condoms.
“This year we had an ambulance respond to a call during the height of the crowds one evening. This has not happened before in the past. We need to get a handle on this ASAP, somehow curtail it, or else put a stop to it altogether … We are seriously considering tapping out on Halloween next year, but this would not resolve or dissipate the anxiety we feel every year, day, night of the month of October. One neighbor has advised some of us to just not dissipate. This clearly misses the point we’re trying to convey and does not solve the problem,” the letter continued.
Suggestions in the letter setting up displays after Oct. 15, post on social media that Tillson was taking a year off to reconfigure, or only opening Tillson Street to the public on weekends in October.
The letter closed by urging the neighbors to get together to come up with solutions.
Wietor said only one neighbor approached her regarding the issue.
She then read her own statement to the board, mentioning what happened with the ambulance incident.
“It was difficult for the ambulance to arrive on scene due to the massive crowds and traffic. Time is not on the side of someone in the middle of a medical crisis. This should worry you,” she said.
She also said if a fire occurred, it would be a total loss in a matter of minutes for any of the 100 plus year-old homes.
“I love my home. It is my sanctuary, but during the month of October we are basically under house arrest for 30 days,” Wietor said.
Danielle Lee said she has been decorating her home for over 20 years and is proud of the thousands of dollars raised for Romeo High School scholarships and canned food donations.
“We did not set up to increase overall traffic in the village or provide an avenue for organizations to raise money that goes back to benefiting our community, but we have. We do not ask for anything in return,” she said.
Lee thanked the Romeo Police for closing Tillson Street the night of October 30 to maintain traffic and crowd control.
Sarah Earp has opted out of participating but it has made no difference regarding crowds or traffic.
“If I don’t choose to decorate, I still get the same outcome if I decorate or I don’t,” she said.
Malzahn explained that after meeting with Romeo Village Attorney Mark Clark and Police Chief Daniel Sokolnicki that the village board has no authority over how residents celebrate any holiday or event.
“Our job is strictly to look out for public safety or enforce ordinances already adopted such as noise, public intoxication or parking restrictions,” she said.
Malzahn said she was more than open to dialogue between the Tillson Street residences and the village, as well as suggestions from the board.
Romeo Village Trustee Bob Hart also lives on Tillson Street and said the police could only do so much.
“I’ve had people yelling in my yard at 4 a.m. It’s limited what the village can actually do,” he said.
He suggested making Tillson a temporary one-way street or having a lights out policy at 10 p.m.
Trustee Justin Parker suggested forming a subcommittee consisting of residents and village representatives, including business owners and the Romeo Police to decide on how to handle future Halloween on Tillson events.
“We can sit down and have a very calm open discussion and try to come to a resolve instead of no one wants to talk to anybody,” he said.
