Underage drinking is council topic again
Land purchases, development will be consideredBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Underage drinking, land purchases and economic development are on the agenda for the Fort Dodge City Council Monday.
The council will begin its chores with a workshop on economic development at 6 p.m. at Citizens Central, 617 Central Ave.
The regular business meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S..
Council members will consider giving final approval to a measure that expands the definition of possession of alcohol by a minor to include alcohol in the body. Under that measure, a minor who registers a blood alcohol content of .02 on a preliminary breath test will be deemed to be in possession of alcohol. People convicted of possession of alcohol by a minor face a fine of up to $500.
A second measure aimed at curtailing underage drinking is up for preliminary approval Monday. It would prohibit anyone under age 21 from being in a business with a liquor license after 10 p.m. unless they're with their parents. Businesses would be exempt from that law if they could prove that more than half of their revenue comes from sales of food or items other than alcohol.
The council will also consider buying several properties so that the land can be cleared for future development. The list includes a building at Fifth Avenue South and 17th Street that houses Mickey's Pawn Shop and The Dugout. The Paula Apartments, 122 S. 13th St., is also on the list of potential purchases.
Council members will also consider awarding a contract for about $15.6 million worth of improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
A nearly completed project at the plant prepared it to treat waste from the Tate & Lyle starch and ethanol plant under construction west of the city.
The new project would provide a series of upgrades and replace components installed in the 1930s.
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10-12-08 5:52 PM
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There should be a like fine assessed to parents of juveniles convicted of possession. It's high time parents took responsibility for their children. How much money does the city want to spend on the properties listed? Isn't it about time we temporarily curb spending money on new projects until the economy stabilizes?
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