Drugs, alcohol involved in majority of city crime
Wadena County Attorney Kyra Ladd asked the Staples City Council for support in changing sentencing guidelines for drug offenders so that they reflect the difference between drug sellers and drug users.
Ladd is the city’s attorney for cases in the Wadena County portion of Staples. At the Jan. 12 Staples City Council meeting she said most dealers are trying to make money on the backs of people who are addicts.
Ladd said addicts need treatment and dealers need harsher jail sentences, but Minnesota state laws are treating both crimes the same. She said that is a problem because there are limited treatment beds, many of which are taken up by dealers who don’t need it. “Jails are full because people are waiting to get into treatment,” Ladd said.
Attorney Joe Krueger, who handles the Todd County cases for the City of Staples, agreed with Ladd’s assessment.
Council members said they would support the changes Ladd suggested.
Both attorneys provided statistics on crimes prosecuted in 2015. Ladd estimated that 90 percent of criminal activity has a tie-in with drug and alcohol activities. Her 2015 stats showed that 40 percent of cases were for alcohol, either DWI or underage drinking, with another 36 percent assault, which includes domestic abuse, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Krueger said there has been an increase in traffic on highways 10 and 210 through Staples, so the number of traffic offenses is going up. He estimated that 40 percent of his work for Staples is traffic related, 25 percent assaults and 25 percent DWI related.
Electrical changes
Joni Livingston of Missouri River Energy said they would like to approve a new contract for the city to purchase power from their company. She said the company has fundamentally changed the way they provide power to cities, selling and buying it on the market instead of charging for transmission from the power plant.
Livingston said the change would result in cost savings for 2016. The board will review the rate changes at their next meeting on Jan. 26.
Off-peak electric
Staples resident Jim Hoemberg asked the council why he was unable to sign up for off-peak electric rate service. Public Works Director Doug Bendorf said the old system hasn’t been working and they will be operating with a new system by September.
Hoemberg wondered why it wasn’t made possible after the new substation was put in. “You should be able to put in off-peak in this day and age,” said Hoemberg.
In other news the board
o Designated Staples World as official newspaper.
o Designated official depositories: First International, Mid-Central, Mid-Minnesota, Unity, Wells Fargo; for securities, United Bankers Bank of Bloomington and Bank of North Dakota.
o Approved pawnbroker’s license for Like-Nu Gun & Pawn.
o Approved resolution identifying slum and blighting conditions in the Small Cities Development Program grant target area.
Committees appointments
The council also approved the following board appointments:
Public Works - Stan Carlson, Bruce Nelsen, Jeff Spandl, Mary Theurer, Roy Miles
Airport Board - Ken Peterson, Kent Nordell, Jeff Weitemier, Chris Etzler, Bruce Nelsen
Planning and Zoning - Joann Schornack, Jim Dregney, Mike Isenberg, Doug Case, Janet Kiley, Tom Kajer, Bruce Drone
Parks and Rec Advisory Board - John Gorton, Libby Isenberg, Roy Miles, Sheila Young, Ron Murray, MaryAnn Petersen, Melissa Daniels
Board of Adjustment - Roy Miles, Bruce Drone, Brian Niemann
Community Corrections - Ron Murray
Airport Zoning Board - Kevin Jenkins, Chris Etzler
Housing and Redevelopment Authority - Frank Leidenfrost, Rose Hoemberg, Bruce Nelsen, Ellen Nelson, Bruce Hayenga
