The Wayland City Council is examin
ing two proposed ordinances, but it appears that only one has a chance of being adopted.
What might fly is a cost recovery ordinance, but it has to be worded properly so it doesn’t falsely give local residents the notion they’ll have to pick up the tab. City Manager Tim McLean and local fire and public safety officials will meet to see if appropriate language can be crafted.
A cost recovery applies to public safety agencies, particularly fire departments, to enable them to get some reimbursement when they perform services. But the idea is to have cost recovery used when someone who does not pay city taxes requires services.
The cities of Hastings and Wyoming have such ordinances in place, but they have absorbed criticism from those who don’t live in the municipality.
“We’ve been talking about this for 10 years,” said Councilwoman Jennifer Antel. “Why haven’t we done something about it?”
Mayor Tim Bala said he would oppose any ordinance that would be double taxation for local residents.
“The people paid to form this (fire) department, but then to turn around and pay again when they have to call them, I don’t like the way this was laid out. There’s too much gray area.”
Mclean assured him that a special committee woul make certain it would apply only to those who don’t already pay taxes in the local fire district.
It was agreed to let the special committee work out clarified language and have the proposal come back before the council.
The proposed ordinance likely to die on the vine is one against distracted driving.
Sgt. Mark Rookus, who was pinch-hitting for Police Chief Steve Harper, said the Wayland PD enforces distracted driving violations (texting, cell phone use, etc.) via the existing state law and there probably isn’t a good reason to tack on another local rule.
City councilman Tim Rose asked why a local fireworks ordinance was adopted in addition to state law, but not this, which he considers much more dangerous.
He said, “I agree it’s a major problem. I’d like to see it enforced.”