(Spirit Lake)– Sparks flew at Tuesday’s Spirit Lake city council meeting during discussion of a resolution to get tough on drug and alcohol addiction.
The resolution wound up passing on a four-to-one vote. Council member Barb Ricke cast the lone dissenting vote, saying it was a ploy to get additional equipment and manpower for the police department. That drew a quick response from Mayor Eric Nielsen, who said additional equipment and manpower is just what the police department needs if it’s to effectively combat the problem.
Police Chief Jon Martyr says the resolution will allow his department to work more closely with various community groups, churches, the schools and other organizations. He says a committee of representatives from the various entities will be formed. Martyr says they hope to have the first meeting sometime next month. He says the committee will be asked to give input on how it perceives the problem, and to give incite on how to address it.
Martyr says it could lead to things such as starting up neighborhood watch programs, among other things.
