Council approves emergency interim ordinance

The New Prague City Council recently unanimously approved an emergency interim ordinance that is in regards to the residency of registered Level III predatory offenders within the city. The ordinance establishes a moratorium and directs that studies of regulations and official controls be conducted.

The council had discussed the development of an ordinance to restrict where a level three offender could live at its November 21 meeting. New Prague joins other communities around the state enacting laws restricting where predatory offenders can live after they have served their terms. While criminal sexual conduct is most thought of, predatory offenders can also include those involved in murder, kidnapping, engaging in sex trafficking plus several other offenses.

From the November 21 meeting the city’s law firm of Kennedy & Graven recommended the emergency interim ordinance. The firm believes this is the most appropriate way to temporarily protect the public, while studying whether new or amended controls are necessary for the community. Attorney Scott Riggs of Kennedy & Graven said the ordinance allows.....

To see more on this story pick up the December 15, 2016 print edition of The New Prague Times.