Waterford among few in area without restrictions
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The Village of Waterford is one step closer to joining many of its neighboring municipalities in having a sex offender ordinance on its books, following a decision this week.
The Village Board on Aug. 8 passed the first reading of an ordinance setting parameters for where registered sex offenders can live within the community. The motion comes on the heels of a robust discussion a month ago on the merits of having legal language on the municipal code.
At its heart, the ordinance prohibits registered offenders convicted of a crime against children from living within a 1,500-foot radius of establishments frequented by children. Existing offenders are being grandfathered from the provision.
The sex offender ordinance proposal is not new to the village. Seven years ago, officials wrangled over the issue. At the time, the board nixed the idea, citing the geography and density of the village’s 2.9 square miles.
More recently, however, residents have implored the incumbent board take action on the issue, citing a growing number of registered sex offenders entering the community.
“I’m worried that Waterford is going to be a dumping ground,” said resident Eileen Diekow, who has led the effort to bring the issue back into the forefront of the village’s conscience. “I don’t want Waterford to become a dumping ground. If it does, I’m getting out of here.”
Village Attorney Marcy Hasenstab and Police Chief Tom Ditscheit had a role in helping craft the ordinance prior to its first reading this week.
The concept of a sex offender ordinance is a familiar one for Ditscheit. The Town of Waterford has long had its own legal language pertaining to the issue.
“I have, in the past, received information on offenders who are released and are returning or moving into the town under some circumstances,” Ditscheit wrote in a memo to the village. “To date, this information is provided to the officers via the roll call board, and I have a binder that I retain the information in.”
In the town, Ditscheit said, he has invested “a substantial amount of time” in meeting with registered offenders, when warranted, to gain an understanding of past offenses.
At the moment, six registered offenders live within the village; each person would be permitted to live in their current residences through a grandfathered provision.
“Of these six, from the information available on the public registry site, three were convicted of crimes involving children,” Village Administrator Rebecca Ewald said.
At this week’s meeting, officials combed through some of the village-based venues that would trigger the 1,500-foot radius provision. Each of the five elementary, middle and high schools within the community are included in the list, as are the two parochial schools.
Also on the list are the 10 operating day care centers within the community and 18 spots designated as parks, playgrounds or green space.
The board in its most recent review also added the Waterford Public Library as a site that should be included on the list of venues.
A second, and final, reading of the ordinance is slated for review within the next month.
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