Resident urges Florence council to oppose ICE facilities; council members decline formal position

At the end of the Florence City Council caucus, resident Roger Burgerer used the public‑comment period to urge the council to pass an ordinance prohibiting ICE and Homeland Security from buying or leasing facilities in the city, calling those sites "internment or concentration facilities." He asked the council to convey to voters and the Boone County Fiscal Court that such facilities are unwelcome in Florence.

Burgerer said he previously asked the council at a February meeting to take similar action and pointed to national coverage and polls as context for his request. "What I'm asking is that you communicate ... that you do not want concentration or interment facilities within the city of Florence," he said.

Council members declined to adopt a formal position as a body. One council member, Mr. W, responded tersely when asked for his view, saying, "Not that I'd like to repeat. No, sir," and later that council as a nonpartisan legislative body has no authority over federal policy. Councilmember Miss Cable said she sided with Mr. W. Other members suggested residents and individual councilmembers can contact state and federal legislators directly if they wish to express opinions on federal enforcement policy.

The mayor thanked Burgerer for his comments. The transcript records the exchange and differing views on whether the council should communicate an official opinion to the fiscal court, but it does not record any motion or council action to adopt a position on the matter.

Ending: No formal council action on the request was recorded; the meeting adjourned after a motion and second.