Members of the West End Neighbor Watch hope 2010 will be a year of growth and new members.

The neighborhood watch program, which started in June 1991, works to make West End safer and prettier.

Secretary Jessie Binion said the watch would work this next year to require new, younger members.

“We are going to focus on getting new members in 2010 — so they can maintain what we have built,” said Binion.

President Hilton Lane said the group plans to work with the city to address dilapidated houses and parking issues.

“Oh boy, it’s a bad sight,” said Lane, in reference to several abandoned or rundown homes.

Both Lane and Binion said the group has received nothing but support from the city over the years and hope that relationship continues.

“We’ve had good support from our police officers,” said Binion.

“Mayor Driver attends meetings and that means a lot.”

Since its inception, the neighborhood watch has secured a grant to bring a drug dog to Clanton and build a police substation. They also report suspicious activity to police.

The group has also worked to put up more yard lights and clean up litter and overgrown lots and yards.

“We just want people to become more interested and support the community they live and work in,” said Lane.

Currently, 11 people are active in the neighborhood watch.

The group meets the first Thursday of every month at the home of Gussie Saxon on 12th Street.

For more information about the watch, call Lane at 755-2906.