Community rallies around criminal trespassing issue, discussion tabled

CHILLICOTHE ― More than 30 community members were at the City Council meeting Monday night to give their opinions and hear council discuss the highly debated criminal trespassing ordinance and the livestock within city limits ordinance.

This city council meeting comes one week after community members spoke up during a committee meeting on the same topics.

Many of those in attendance were against the criminal trespassing ordinance, which what still committed on the agenda. The legislation had recently gotten rid of a section that would have protected those camping on public property who had no other places to go.

One of the speakers, Steven Roof, said as a homeless man he thinks the city should work with the other organizations in town to help build a network that helps people find jobs and things to do during the day. He also mentioned getting rides to these places and the possibility of classes to teach people how to apply for housing and how to pay bills.

Another speaker, Bill Showman, asked council a series of questions including who would pay for the homeless put in jail and where were the homeless individuals supposed to go during the day when the shelter closes. He also mentioned how homelessness had risen in recent years and the shelters are not able to keep up.

"So help me understand," said Showman. "Where are homeless folks supposed to go?"

Not everyone in the audience disproved of the ordinance one participant, Nancy McNealy, said she supported councilperson Julie Preston, who is head of the safety service committee where this ordinance originated, and the police who have knowledge on this issue. She also asked where the homeless were coming from and why they were in Chillicothe.

Despite hitting the 15-minute time limit on a subject audience members continued to talk. Councilperson Deidra Nickerson motioned for the time limit to be waived but none of the other council people in attendance seconded the motion. Since it was not seconded and voted on the audience was no longer able to discuss the legislation during public participation for the night.

At the end of the meeting after all 11 issues had been read Preston asked that the criminal trespassing ordinance be tabled. This means that if nothing is done with the legislation by the next city council meeting it will expire. This does not mean the issue will be completely abandoned, instead, it gives council and the safety service committee more time to research the issue and find a different plan of action. Preston's decision to table the issue came after a constitutional issue was created with the removal of the homeless exemption.

Another topic of the night was the livestock in city limits ordinance which also had its own set of supporters and critics. The legislation had recently been moved out of committee and was on the second read during the meeting.

The Rev. Dr. Jason Link pointed out that the legislation had not been looked over enough as there are two section Bs. He also said he believes this ordinance is discriminatory to 4-H participants who, as he said, take good care of their animals.

Janet Griffith spoke on this issue as well, she said she had chickens in the yard behind hers and that they cause a great disturbance to her when she is outside. She mentions the smell and the flies that are brought along with the animals and their feces.

"Our city is a city," said Griffith. "It's not a dump."

Preston, who also had this legislation in her committee, said it is impossible to make everyone happy. She said council needs to think about all the citizens in the community, not just one.

City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Monday of every month starting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The public is welcome to attend meetings in person or stream them online.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Community rallies around criminal trespassing issue, discussion tabled