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Falls City Council Votes Down Sexual Offender Residency Proposal

By John Nixon

01/04/2016

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Leaf Addressed Council

(KLZA)-- Falls City Mayor Jerry Oliver cast the deciding vote Monday night in turning down a request for the City Council to pass an ordinance restricting the distance a registered sex offender could live from a school of licensed daycare center.

Council members Mike Dougherty, Judy Murphy, Steve Scholl and Jim Wisdom voted in favor of the motion to have the City Attorney create an ordinance. Council members Don Ferguson, Angie Nolte, John Vaughn and Anthony Nussbaum cast nay votes. Mayor Oliver also cast the deciding nay vote.

Joan Stoller asked the Council in December to create the ordinance when she found out a registered sexual offender had moved into the neighborhood where she lives. Monday night Stoller touched on concerns raised in December about such an ordinance forcing people out of town and the possible costs to enforce such an ordinance. She noted that in Nebraska communities with such an ordinance the percentage of registered sex offenders is very small and that in Falls City, the number is smaller than most.

She also said that the only costs for the City would likely be the initial measuring of distances.

Mayor Oliver noted that the ordinance proposed would only pertain to sexual predators, not to registered sexual offenders.

Matthew Leaf, who identified himself as the person that moved into the neighborhood,spoke against the proposed legislation.

Leaf noted that research indicates, most sexual abuses against children are not committed by registered sex offenders, but rather by family members or acquaintances of the child. He said there is not research to indicate proximity to a school or daycare increases the likelihood that they will offend.

Leaf asked the Council not to adopt this “feel good” legislation that accomplishes nothing.

Falls City Police Chief Duane Armbruster said his department would do their best to enforce the ordinance if adopted, he said there would likely be pros and cons if approved. Armbruster said you can’t create an island where the offenders are forced to live and call it good.

It was noted in December that if a 500-foot restriction were approved, it would actually cover more than half of Falls City.