Council bans Kratom, hires school resource officer and authorizes drafting towing/parking ordinances

The public health and safety committee approved an ordinance prohibiting Kratom sales in the city and authorized personnel and parking measures aimed at downtown enforcement and school security.

The committee moved and passed Ordinance No. 15 65 to prohibit Kratom in the city. The item passed on voice vote.

On staffing, John, a public safety official, said the SRO posting produced one letter of interest — from Ashley Stellhorn, a current city police officer. Council voted to place Stellhorn in the school‑resource‑officer position; staff noted a separate hiring process will be needed to backfill her full‑time patrol slot. During the special council roll call later in the meeting members confirmed Stellhorn’s start date at the school when classes resume after Christmas (January 6).

Councilors also discussed chronic parking in downtown yellow zones and options to address repeat offenders. Staff recommended contracting with a tow provider for automatic towing in posted tow zones and creating two short‑term drop‑off spaces near the four‑way stop. Council authorized Rebecca, the city attorney, to draft two ordinances: one authorizing tow zones and the other creating downtown no‑parking and short‑term drop‑off areas. Members asked that the draft ordinance include photographic documentation requirements for the tow contractor and signage indicating automatic towing.

Votes at a glance: council approved the Kratom prohibition (Ordinance No. 15 65), authorized the hire of Ashley Stellhorn as school resource officer, and approved language to move forward on tow‑zone and downtown parking ordinances to be drafted by counsel.

What happens next: the city attorney will prepare ordinance drafts, staff will coordinate SRO onboarding and initiate recruitment to fill the anticipated patrol vacancy, and the tow‑zone ordinance will be brought back for formal council consideration.