Heated debate ends in split vote with mayor’s vote breaking the tie
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
Following heated debate amongst council members, the City of Elkhorn Common Council voted 4-3 in favor of moving forward with a first reading of an ordinance that aims to keep convicted sex offenders from moving into the City of Elkhorn.
Mayor Brian Olson said last fall when the ordinance was in its early stages the ordinance would prohibit convicted sex offenders from living within a specified distance of “child safety zones,” such as schools and day cares. Olson said sex offenders currently living within the zones would not be penalized or asked to relocate.
Alderman received two different drafts of the ordinance Monday evening, one setting a distance of 2,000 feet and the other 2,500 feet. City Attorney Ward Phillips said alderman received the draft Monday afternoon because of a typo in the draft, as well as the addition of a clause including first-degree sexual assault.
After a lengthy and sometimes heated debate, the motion to approve the ordinance listing 2,000-feet as the distance for a first reading was made by Alderman James D’Alessandro, seconded by Alderman Tom Myrin.
The question was called to a vote before Alderman Tom Myrin had to leave for an unspecified reason. Aldermen Hoss Rehberg, Scott McClory and Gary Payson Sr. voted in opposition. Aldermen Myrin, Greg Huss and D’Alessandro voted in favor of passing the ordinance to a first reading. A vote in favor from Olson broke the tie.
With a first reading of the ordinance approved for the Oct. 6 council meeting, the council could vote to waive the first reading, allowing the members to finalize a vote on the ordinance next week.
For the complete story and the public comment at the meeting, see the Oct. 2 edition of the Elkhorn Independent.
