Proposed city firearm ban shot down

    A resolution to ban guns from public buildings died at the Washington City Council meeting last week. The resolution will now be taken off the council?s agenda.

    The resolution had been tabled since the council?s Jan. 19 meeting. Councilor Mike Roth motioned to untable the resolution Wednesday, so it could be discussed and voted on. The council was evenly split 3-3 on the motion to untable. Roth, Karen Wilson-Johnson and Fred Stark voted to untable, while Bob Shepherd, Merlin Hagie and Russ Zieglowsky voted against the motion. Mayor Sandra Johnson was then given the opportunity to break the tie. Johnson remarked that she wanted to settle the matter, and thus voted for the motion to untable.

    City Attorney Craig Arbuckle informed the council that there is a bill in the Iowa House of Representatives to take away the city?s right to control firearms in city buildings.

    ?If they pass it, we would have no authority to pass this resolution,? said Arbuckle.

    Bob Shepherd said people on ?both sides of the issue? have contacted him to share their opinion. Shepherd said he wanted to keep the resolution tabled until more information comes in.

    Police Chief Greg Goodman informed the council that, by Iowa Code, guns are prohibited from city parks regardless of whether the council passes the resolution.

    Roth motioned to approve the resolution. No one seconded the motion, so the motion died. Mayor Johnson asked if there were an alternative motion. Shepherd motioned to re-table the resolution, which Stark seconded. When it came to a vote, only Shepherd and Stark voted for the motion. The other four voted against it.

    Mayor Johnson remarked, ?The resolution is a non-issue. It is done for.?

    Members of the Washington Tree Committee gave their annual report to the council. Adam Brown reviewed the projects the committee completed in 2010, such as the spring give-away of 100 trees, planting 70 trees on school property and the fall planting at Case Field.

    Rick Wagenknecht presented the committee?s 2010 volunteer of the year award. The committee chose the Washington School District. Wagenknecht handed the award to Superintendent Mike Jorgensen, who was there to accept it on behalf of the district. Wagenknecht went on to describe the close cooperation between the tree committee and the school district in 2010. 

    ?We were thrilled when they contacted us to do some planting at their schools,? he said. ?Not only did they want the trees, but they were very helpful throughout the process. Many volunteers were there to help plant. Over the summer, we were contacted about planting trees at Case Field. We planted 15 trees, and we received support from school personnel and students. We?ve been very pleased to have this partnership with the school district.?

For more, see our Feb. 17 print edition.