(Okoboji)– The city of Okoboji is beefing up its code of ordinances dealing with public offenses.
The city council Tuesday adopted amendments to two such ordinances, adding definitions for “disorderly conduct” and “unlawful assembly”.
City Attorney Mike Chozen tells KUOO news the amended ordinances are intended to address problems with so-called “party houses”. Under the new ordinances, Chozen says not only can the occupants of such houses be criminally charged, but so can the owners.
Neighbors living near the so-called “party houses” on Lakeshore Drive jammed their way into the council chambers, with the crowd spilling over into the lobby of city hall. They again expressed frustration over noise, pollution and vandalism. Some even produced photos of vandalism taking place in their back yards. Chozen says having such evidence, along with the new ordinances, will help greatly to take care of the problem once and for all.
Several citizens at Tuesday’s meeting also called on the city to set a maximum number of people allowed in the houses. But city officials say that would be difficult to enforce as they would have to determine who was actually living there and who were guests.
