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Judge clears Laura Hill in blight case; Badger to have ordinances reviewed
Summary
A judge found resident Laura Hill not guilty of a blight charge because the ordinance’s wording requires more than one blighting factor; the city will send Ordinance #63 to the city attorney for review and will pay reduced towing/storage fees to Badger Towing and Storage so Hill can retrieve vehicles.
Mayor J. Rinde told the council that a judge found Laura (L.) Hill not guilty of a blight charge because the City of Badger ordinance’s language requires noncompliance with more than one blighting factor to sustain a violation. The judge’s interpretation turned on the ordinance wording, specifically the use of the word “and.”
As a result of the decision, city staff has met with Badger Towing and Storage and the city will pay a reduced towing and storage fee so Hill may retrieve her vehicles. The council directed staff to have Ordinance #63 and related ordinance language reviewed by the city attorney to determine whether the ordinance should be revised for clearer enforcement.
Mayor Rinde’s report did not include the judge’s case number or a copy of the opinion. The minutes record the council’s direction to pursue legal review but do not show any further enforcement action taken at this meeting.
