Where Do You Fall on Hot City Topics?

It may be autumn, but the chambers of the are about to heat up tonight.

On the table for the council is a social host ordinance that aims to curb underage drinking, but that hasn't been used since its adoption in November 2009.

Councilmembers Dane Besneatte, Thom Bogue and Vice Mayor Michael Ceremello voted in favor to introduce an ordinance that would essentially do away with the Social Host Ordinance -- Mayor Jack Batchelor and Councilman Rick Fuller voted against it.

Besneatte and Bogue has said that the Social Host Ordinance is an attack on the U.S. Constitution, specifically the 4th Amendment that guards citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. Ceremello said that the ordinance is not curbing underage drinking and is unnecessary, pointing out that the hasn't issued any citations because of the ordinance according to Capt. Tony Welch.

The ordinance allows law enforcement to fine social hosts -- whether they know that there's a party in their home or not -- a fine of $100 (first offense), $200 (second offense), $500 (three or more offenses) should police find underage drinking taking place at the home.

Mayor Jack Batchelor and Rick Fuller were present when the ordinance passed back in 2009 and voted in favor of it then. Fuller and Batchelor said that they had not heard anything during the last council meeting that changed their minds.

Many in the audience -- including former councilwoman Kay Cayler and director Cookie Powell -- agreed with Fuller and Batchelor and spoke to the council against the repeal.

But it seems as if the ordinance repealing the Social Host Ordinance, however, will go ahead tonight -- given that the two councilmembers and one vice mayor have so far lended their support for it.

What do you think about this issue?

Is this an attack on the 4th Amendment?

Is this the first of a long list of laws that should be repealed for the sake of personal freedom?

Is this ordinance a necessary law that is designed to hold parents and other adults accountable for providing alcohol to minors during parties inside their homes?

Is this a good idea for Dixon?

Where do you fall on this issue?

Tonight, the council will also revisit the city's two-year fireworks pilot program that made it legal for the sale and use of state-approved fireworks in Dixon.

City staff proposes several amendments to the program -- everything from the location of the stands, the size of the signs used to advertise the stands, allowing fireworks usage in city parks, tents and shade structures, and the dates that the fireworks are allowed to be used.

With the Fourth of July come and gone, what is your assessment of the fireworks program? What could the city do to improve it?

The Dixon City Council meets tonight in its chambers, 600 East A Street, at 7 p.m.