Pubdate: Thu, 23 May 2002
Source: Daily Citizen (WI)
Copyright: 2002 Conley Publishing Group, Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.citizenol.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1152
Author: Jody Lindstrom

BEAVER DAM PREPARES FOR WEEDSTOCK 2002

Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Olson wants it to be clear that he is not 
rolling out the "welcome wagon" for Ben Masel and his Weedstock rally 
set to begin at noon on Memorial Day in Swan City Park.

Yet Olson accepts that it is Masel's constitutional right to 
peaceably assemble.

"They applied for a permit to use the park to make a political 
statement. And as such we have no legal right to deny them that," 
Olson said.

Acting as primary spokesperson for the city's preparations for 
Weedstock, Olson said he has had a series of meetings with the Beaver 
Dam chief of police, Jana Stephens director of parks and recreation, 
personnel from the department of public works and the Dodge County 
Sheriff's office.

Various public safety and law enforcement issues surround the 
gathering of such a controversial issue as Weedstock, in which the 
focus is advocating the legalization of marijuana and the use of hemp 
as an agricultural commodity. Rally participation estimates range 
from 450 to 2,500 people.

"We intend to show a police presence from the very beginning of the 
rally. We intend to enforce the law according to the standards of the 
community. We will make arrests of people who are being disorderly, 
using illegal substances, or violating any other state statute or 
city ordinance," Olson said.

As far as a specific number of officers that will be staffed, Olson 
said he is reluctant at this time to give an exact number of police 
that will be on hand, saying "I think we have made suitable 
arrangements to have a more than adequate police presence

Dodge County sheriff deputies will be available should the necessity arise.

According to Olson, police will issue municipal citations based on 
the age of the individual committing the offense,."If they are 
juveniles they will be cited under the municipal law."

However Olson added, "We intend to make arrests of people who are 
using illegal substances."

Masel has not requested nor has he been granted a permit to allow 
consumption of alcoholic beverages. However, Olson concedes that park 
policy does permit groups who are coming into the park to bring 
alcoholic beverages in with them.

Auxiliary police will be on hand to handle traffic control issues. 
And tow services have been put on notice to immediately tow any car 
that is illegally parked or blocking residential driveways.

As far as the economic impact of Weedstock on the city, Olson just 
shakes his head, saying "I can't even imagine what this is going to 
cost the city, but it is going to be a lot of overtime, and we have 
no way of getting back any overtime expenses for personnel That is 
something the city is going to have to eat."

Masel, however, is responsible for clean-up of the park afterward, 
rental of porta-potties and other park facilities such as the band 
shell for musical entertainment.

Olson predicts that current provisions in the city's park policy, 
including allowing non-residents the same type of access and use of 
the park facilities as residents, will be taken into consideration. 
This will also include considering a security deposit or bond in case 
of damage to city property.

"The city's policy for groups from outside of the city will be 
undergoing close scrutiny and will undoubtedly be changed," Olson 
said.
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