Ordinance to ban alcohol in Polson parks considered

POLSON — A new ordinance being considered for Polson parks would prohibit alcohol consumption in any park without a permit.

The ordinance streamlines and clarifies old ordinances that are specific to individual parks, said Karen Sargeant, Polson’s parks director and interim city manager.

“It has been giving us issues for a long time,” Sargeant said, adding the convoluted current ordinances make enforcement difficult.

A clear ordinance would eliminate any confusion and make parks friendlier for community members, she said.

“Bottom line on all of this is we’re trying to get families back to enjoy the parks,” she said.

“I want everyone to feel comfortable when they come in to our parks.”

People who want to have alcohol in a park still could — they would just have to get a permit first.

They would have to go to the parks or police department and provide information on when and in which park they plan to have alcohol. After paying a fee, they could proceed and would have to keep the permit on their person at the designated time.

Fees haven’t been determined, but Sargeant said a $40 fee for one-time use and a $100 fee for seasonal use, such as for a league sport, are being considered. The revenue from the fees would help maintain parks, she added.

The permit system is a good compromise for families and people who want to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, said Brian Moldenhauer, the parks board chairman.

“Because it makes someone responsible,” he said.

Polson Police Chief Wade Nash voiced support for the ordinance, saying it would clean up city parks and make them more community-friendly.

“We see a tremendous amount of alcohol abuse in the parks,” Nash said, adding that currently officers are forced to give warnings but most of the time can’t eject people.

“There’s really no tools against it,” he said.

And in the summer, when families want to enjoy the parks without people throwing up and urinating in public, that’s especially problematic, Nash said.

If the ordinance is approved by Polson city commissioners, police will have the enforcement tool they need, he said.

“We will have zero tolerance on it, absolutely. It will be strictly enforced,” Nash said.

However, he added that the first summer would be more lenient as the community learns what’s expected.

The council is expected to go through a first reading of the ordinance at their June 3 meeting and a copy of the ordinance will be available in the meeting agenda packet, online at www.cityofpolson.com.