SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Right now alcohol is banned on all Siouxland Libraries property. Police Chief Jon Thum and Siouxland Libraries director Jodi Fick are bringing forward an ordinance to strengthen that measure.
“Our rules are set up to make sure that we have an environment that is friendly and that everyone’s behavior does not impact on other people’s use of the library. Unfortunately, when people get under the influence of alcohol, oftentimes their behavior is disruptive,” Fick said.
Staff said they’ve seen a significant increase in people disobeying that rule.
In the first half of last year, library staff say they had nine incidents involving alcohol at their downtown location. This year, they’ve had 141 incidents and had to call the police for over 20 of those.
“I know there are times we have different officers that patrol areas, including the libraries, and I know there are alcohol issues there,” Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department said.
Currently, the library punishes anyone who brings alcohol onto its property by banning them from the library for some time. The ordinance would give police the ability to further support that enforcement.
“The current thing that police are able to do is if we ask someone to leave and they refuse to leave, then they can enforce a failure to vacate, but not necessarily based on what the behavior was,” Fick said.
It comes down to the city council’s decision. They meet on Tuesday for the first reading of the ordinance.
