On Split Vote, Village Board Passes Sexual Predator Ordinance

The Village Board passed a new sexual predator ordinance Tuesday after a heated discussion among board members that led to a split vote.

Two adjustments were made to the ordinance originally .

A local church board members did not name was concerned about its religious education classes, which are held simultaneously for children and adults. The board decided it’s OK for a convicted sexual offender to attend the adult classes as long as he/she is accompanied by other adults who are not sexual offenders.

Also, the village decided on a $500 fine for violators of the ordinance. This is average when compared to neighboring communities.

Although the board passed the ordinance, it was not a unanimous vote. Village trustees Pat Tetzlaff and Tim Dietrich both expressed concerns during discussion and eventually voted against the village regulation.

“This is a very difficult subject, and I certainly do not condone sexual predators, but I’m also not comfortable crafting a ‘feel-good’ ordinance,” Tetzlaff said. “Rather than write an ordinance, I think it would be wonderful to get our school district and police department to just educate people.”

Dietrich agreed with Tetzlaff, saying this is the most difficult thing he’s encountered since he’s been on the board.

“It scares me to think that people would think the problem goes away with this ordinance,” said Dietrich. “There’s really no good solution to this other than, people have to police and educate their children. I believe this ordinance tells people they don’t have to do this, so I don’t support this at all.”

Trustee Jim Batzko, who supported the measure, had other concerns for the village. He said while this ordinance won’t prevent sexual deviancy within the home, it will protect Sussex from a possible future danger.

“My fear is that all of our surrounding communities are adopting ordinances, and I don’t want Sussex to become the spot where they’re all placed into,” Batzko said. “As a police officer, there’s nothing worse than delivering a notification to a family and seeing their face as they realize a sexual offender is going to be living three blocks from their house.”

Dietrich, however, was not convinced. He said that despite the lack of an ordinance, convicted sexual felons haven't flocked to Sussex.

Village President Greg Goetz, who voted to pass the ordinance, agreed parents need to take responsibility, and this new regulation is just preventative.

“I think the parents are the first line of defense, and it’s certainly not the Village Board," he said. "I think we’re just trying to put into place a little added protection.”

The board passed the ordinance 4-2.