The City Council of 2 Rivers voted on Dec. 15 to deny a request for a waiver from the city's residency restrictions for registered offenders under ordinance 9-9.

The council considered the appeal after staff and the police department recommended denial, citing the nature of the prior offense and a lack of qualifying exemptions. The applicant, Sean L. Mitton, told the council he and his family had purchased a home after mistakenly believing the residency restriction applied to the county rather than the city. Mitton said he has completed required treatment, has been offense-free for more than a decade, and that two of his three children rely on nearby daily therapy. "I respectfully request that my individual circumstances be taken into account," Mitton said during his presentation.

Several family members and neighbors offered character testimony in support of Mitton, saying he is a steady caregiver whose move would place the children closer to trusted respite care. In contrast, police testimony noted the department had advised Mitton not to purchase the residence after reviewing his record and that statutory exceptions were not established in this case.

After council discussion, a motion to deny the waiver was made and seconded. The council carried the motion in a roll-call vote, adopting the staff and police recommendation to deny the appeal. The decision means the applicant must either sell the property or otherwise resolve the residency conflict consistent with city ordinance 9-9.

What happens next: The council president thanked the applicant for attending and noted the options available following the denial. The file remains subject to any administrative or statutory appeal processes available under city procedures.

Vote and official action: The council recorded a roll-call vote on the motion to deny; the motion carried and the denial was approved by the council.