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Lancaster Council discusses ordinances
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    For the last portion of the Lancaster Common Council meeting Monday, July 21, the council discussed new ordinances to enact this fall as part of the recodification of the municipal ordinances.
    The city council looked at ordinances dealing with lawn clippings being blown into the streets, adding a city curfew for those under the age of 18, limiting exotic animals being held within city limits, and requiring permits for parades, marches and walk/runs.
    During a brief discussion, council member David Varnam wanted to see the term purposeful be added to the clipping ordinance, trying to get at intent, as opposed to clippings being blown in by the wind.
    Varnam also felt the parade ordinance did not refer to walks and runs directly, possibly confusing those who may not see the intent of the ordinance.
    City Clerk Treasurer David Kurihara also pointed out in other communities that have such ordinances, the price increases for those who wait until close to the event.
    As for the curfew ordinance, City Administrator Steve Winger based the ordinance off one in a former community he worked in. “I think it’s a good ordinance as far as curfew is considered, it’s not heavy handed,” Winger said.
    Police Chief Steve Zabel had a few alterations to make, but said the debate that has happened made many residents realize the city did not have such an ordinance already.
    “It would, it would help right now,” Zabel said of the proposal, pointing to three car thefts reported to his office on Monday alone.
    Each of those ordinances was to be part of a public hearing for residents to voice their opinions on the subject within the next two months.
    (Editor’s Note: Copies of the revised ordinances, as well as the proposed ordinances for curfew, grass clippings, and parades are linked to the left)

For more information on what else the council did, including looking at funding for the library expansion project, pick up the July 24 edition of the Grant County Herald Independent.