Town targets sex offenders

CROTHERSVILLE - Sex offender and parks and recreation board ordinances are now official in Crothersville.

Council President Ardell Mitchell and members Bill Nagle and Karen Mains voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the town's new-est ordinances.

The sex offender ordinance has two parts.

The first creates residential restrictions for registered sex offenders.

"They cannot live within 500 feet of a school, daycare or park," town attorney Travis Thompson said.

According to the ordinance, the sole intent is not to impose a criminal penalty but to serve the town's "compelling interest to promote, protect and improve the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Crothers-ville."

However, if a person violates the residential prohibition ordinance, he or she can receive a fine of up to $500.

Sex offenders cannot enter certain property owned by the town of Crothersville, with the exception of town hall or another place where the offender has to pay fees or fines or to cast a vote.

The second part of the ordinance specifically pertains to parks. If a sex offender enters a park, he or she can be fined anywhere from $100 to $2,500. The person also could receive charges of criminal trespass.

Now, Crothersville police will have to deliver notices to the sex offenders living in town boundaries to let them know of the ordinance. Signage prohibiting sex offenders must be put up at each of the town's parks as well. A map showing prohibited areas also will be posted in town hall.

Of re-establishing a parks board, Mitchell initiated that discussion in February. At first, council members had trouble finding people interested, but as the ordinance got closer to becoming reality, more people expressed interest.

So far, the seven candidates are Mike Spencer, Sam King, Sara Isenhower, Jimmy Shirley, Steve Prather, Alisa Sweazy and Butch Robinson.

Now that the ordinance has passed, town council must choose the four members.

Mitchell said an ex-officio member, someone from the school board of trustees, will be the fifth person. That person will have the same rights, including voting, as the other members. It's expected that the school board will make its decision this month, while town council will announce the appointments at the Aug. 5 meeting.

People still may contact Mitchell or town hall to be considered for the board, but it must be done before the August meeting.

In other business
Also Tuesday, Crothers-ville Town Council:

- Heard from Mark Adams, owner of Adams Funeral Home on Howard Street, of a concern of people driving through his parking lot off Dixon Street and, in some cases, damaging property. Drivers still go through it, even when it's been blocked off.

Council member Karen Mains was assigned to work with Adams and street superintendent Don Roth to discuss what can be done.

- Approved Verizon to install Internet service for the wastewater treatment plant. The cost will be $42.99 per month for high-speed DSL service.

Other bids were received from C3BB in Scottsburg, $50 per month with a one-time $100 installation fee, and Insight Cable, $49.95 per month with $150 installation fee, but the fee would be waived if a one-year contract was signed.