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Curfew issue dominates city council agenda |
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Wednesday, 12 September 2007 |
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
The issue of having a curfew was a controlling product of the Tuesday city council meeting.
Readers will recall that in the Aug. 30 I-O, Ben Knobel wrote a guest editorial in which he penned, “I propose taking the curfew law we have in our fair little city and throwing it in the trash bin…”
His opinion opened up a huge topic of conversation. He was at the council meeting Tuesday in hopes that aldermen had further researched the topic.
Knobel’s editorial prompted a reply in the Sept. 6 I-O by Doreen King, saying in part, “…We have bigger fish to fry with the meth and drugs that have plagued our community.”
In a comment period during the council meeting, alderman Sandy Syvertson said, “I’m in favor of the curfew.” He felt there was some misinformation that Knobel had presented.
Chief Gary Dent commented, “I think the curfew is beneficial.” He cited one instance where a case was solved from a curfew violation, adding, “We’re out there anyway.”
Dent also noted, “There needs to be rules to keep everybody in check. I don’t see anything wrong with the curfew parameters. We have to live within the law.”
Knobel came back and replied, “Nobody is addressing the real issue here. I would really hope that since this was dropped off (a copy of his editorial for council members) earlier, you’d address this.”
Attorney Mary Ann Ries said, “I have a very strong justification for this (curfew). There is a criminal element here that will prey on young people. Children are more viable, we need a curfew for the safety of our children.”
Councilwoman Wendy Judisch questioned why he (Knobel) was concerned. “As a parent, I’m thankful help is out there.”
Mayor John Shevlin said he called MMI, and, “This has never been challenged in Montana, so how can it be unconstitutional?”
Chief Dent added that some Montana cities have more stringent curfew laws than Conrad. “It’s a very useful tool.”
Mayor Shevlin read a letter signed by the library employees stating they were in favor of a curfew. No action was taken on the matter.
In other business before the council, two fencing projects were approved, one at 113 S. Wisconsin and the other at 318 S. Virginia.
The mayor met with engineers from Morrison Maierle, Inc., regarding the pump station at Lake Frances. There is some settling of the pump house and several other smaller problems, however, “The pump station is working quite well,” he noted.
Action on an automated garbage system was tabled for two weeks. Gary Brown noted, “There needs to be some updating here and I’d like two weeks to gather more information and make a decision.” A motion on this was made and passed.
On a side note, the mayor commented there was talk of the council tabling issues. “The council works very hard and diligently for taxpayers and rate payers and I applaud them for their ability.”
In a general report from Chief Dent, he said in part, there were over 200 calls in August, 21 various assists, eight misdemeanor arrests for curfew violations, served from others out of town, 12 ambulance assists, one snake reported at the Horizon Lodge and three badgers dispatched.
Cheryl Curry from the Port Authority said they were working on real estate transfers. She attended a meeting on the impact of the missile pullout and had been in Washington for an economic development session, the first step in becoming certified.
The next regular meeting of the city council is Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. at city hall, 411-1/2 S. Main.
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