Party house rule finds support
By GEORGE LEDBETTER, Record Editor Friday, November 14, 2008
An ordinance that would give police authority to write citations to those who allow their property to be used for parties that involve under-age drinking found support Monday from a Chadron rental property owner, and from a school official.
The so-called ‘party house’ ordinance, given second reading by the Chadron City Council at Monday’s meeting, makes holding a party where five or more people under age 21 are present and alcoholic beverages are consumed by anyone under age 21 (other than a permanent residence of the house) a nuisance offense. Also given nuisance status under the ordinance is a house where illegal acts including underage consumption of alcohol take place, or where a gathering causes disturbance to neighbors.
The ordinance would give police a way to target underage drinking that would be more effective than the current laws, said police chief Tim Lordino. When police respond to a large party, it is difficult, and sometimes unsafe, to try to issue citations to all of those present who are drinking illegally, he said. “This would target the people who are holding the parties.”
While the ordinance would likely affect people who are renting a property, police would also inform the landlord in writing that a citation has been issued, said Lordino. If there are repeat violations and the landlord has not taken action, a citation could be written against them as well, he said, but police would expect to work cooperatively with the property owner.
“A letter from the police gives the property owner leverage to evict a tenant,” he noted.
Getting a notice from the police that a party on their rental property been issued a citation would be welcome, said Matt Reeves.
“We would like to be notified,” he said. “We favor it.”
And Chadron City Schools also favors the ordinance as a support to its policies on drug and alcohol testing, said Bruce Parish, Chadron High School activities director. “This would be an improvement on what’s happening now,” he said.
Speaking as a homeowner, Parish said he also supports the proposal, because loud parties affect entire neighborhoods. “A party affects three or four blocks with traffic, litter and noise,” he said.
No one spoke in opposition to the ordinance, although council member Don Thompson said he has some reservations about how it conforms to the first and fourth amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Thompson also pointed out an inconsistency in the wording of the ordinance as presented.
Third reading of the measure will be Nov. 3.
The Nov. 3 meeting will also include second reading, and more detailed discussion, of an ordinance that would make the city a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program. A video presented Monday stressed the advantages of participation in the program, which allows homeowners to purchase government backed flood insurance. Adopting the measure would place restrictions on building in designated flood hazard areas.
In a report to the council on the election issue regarding adding fluoride to the city’s water supply, city manager Sandy Powell explained that equipment to add fluoride would cost about $101,000 and supplies would cost about $15,000 annually. The money would be paid through increase in water rates, she said.
Powell also noted that because of the wording of the issue, a “Yes’ vote will actually be express opposition to adding fluoride to city water.
In other business the council:
•approved a final plat for Coleman Estates, located south of Chadron on the east side of Highway 385;
•heard a proclamation of Nov. 8 as Miss Chadron/Miss Northwest Scholarship Pageant Day;
•set a Nov. 17 hearing date for the city’s BID assessments;
•were introduced to new Utilities Superintendent Tom Menke..
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