When I read the result of the Commissioners’ meeting concerning the alarm ordinance, I felt that the issue needed a to be addressed. Unlike Oren LeCompte, I failed to voice my opinion choosing the easier path of no resistance. Oren’s letter snapped me back to reality and for this I thank you.
When we were in school and one or more students acted up the entire class was punished. It is always easier to punish everyone than to stand up to the individuals causing the problem. Did the police chief’s report identify how many of the false alarms were contributed to residents and how many were for businesses?
Isn’t there already an ordinance on false alarms? Several years ago when alarms first became popular and false alarms were constant I seem to remember an ordinance where if a residence had over two false alarms there was a charge. I would like to see a more detailed report on this problem, broken down between private residents and businesses. If there is a problem caused by the alarms then address the problems and don’t punish the entire class. Fines for excessive false alarms in my view, are appropriate. Fees to register your alarm and an annual fee makes the proposal sound more like a sham designed only to bring in revenue.
Sharon Baxter
Shawnee
