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Valley Times
1 DOLLAR serving blythe,california Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Locals plead for reversal

of pot dispensary decision
Council votes to keep the ordinance in place for next eight months
By Cathyleen Rice
Times Reporter
Many residents packed the
Chamber Room at last Tues-
days Blythe City Council
meeting, pleading with council
members to reverse their deci-
sion on allowing marijuana
dispensaries to enter Blythe.
Approving every item on
Marijuana in Blythe at the
forefront of council, Page A2
the consent calendar without
discussion, only item 14 (The
Second Reading of Ordinance
882-17) remained.
Opening the floor for public
comment, through an hour
long discussion (see related
story), Council heard from
those who were for dispensa-
ries being placed in Blythe and
from those who are against it.
However, in the end, city
council unanimously voted to
keep the ordinance in place
until the current moratorium
expires within the next eight
months.
For the City, this means the
acting ordinance will continue
to impose a ban on recreation-
al marijuana businesses from
being placed in Blythe and the
act of outdoor cultivation from
being done at this time.
With the HdL consultants,
who are the responsible party
managing the Citys marijua-
na program unavailable for
the last marijuana panel dis-
cussion, the second ordinance
reading is scheduled for May
30 at 6 p.m., inside the Multi-
purpose Room.
In addition to the meeting,
council members received a
presentation from Chief Data
Officer Tom Mullen of River-
See meeting/A5

Softball smiles

photo by cathyleen rice/palo verde valley times

The Yellow Jacket Varisty softball team, wrapped up another season all smiles.

Blythe In Focus

BPD addresses trespassing

enforcement, trash concerns
By Uriel Avendano
Times Editor
Editors Note: This ar-
ticle is the third in a three-
part series that aims to
address what locals can
do to change the growing
concerns of illegal trash
and garbage dumping
violations in the city of
Blythe.
Given the growing
concerns of trash and
consistent point of owners. Often the owner
concern for Blythe of abandoned property is
locals. The issue of a Bank or other financial
debris in vacant lots/
company. This makes
properties seems to prosecution near impos-
be significantly tied
sible. We still respond to
to the homelessness all complaints, but some-
problem as well In
times all we can do is
terms of makeshift va- ask the offender to move
grant campgrounds in
along.
empty lots/property
parcels, what is the
Q: One of the run-
process and/or extent
to which BPD can ex- ning themes that
ercise public nuisance seems to come up with

Grid Alternatives installs its impact on the over- or trespassing laws? respect to these de-
all aesthetics of the city, A: Public nuisance bris stricken proper-
the Times sat down with enforcement is a func- ties is the question of
the Blythe Police De- the property owner

solar panels on Alice Lane

tion of the City of Blythe
partments (BPD) Police Code Enforcement De- - it seems that some
Chief Jeff Wade to dis- partment. The Police De- of these abandoned
cuss the multi-layered partment works closely buildings/homes/lots
have owners that may
By Cathyleen Rice years, Berwald said she shied away issues involved to in- with Code Enforcement
Times Reporter clude trespassers, public on all matters pertain- not reside within the
from the idea of having solar installed city limits. In terms
nuisance complaints, en- ing to violations of City
Linda Berwald is one lucky home- some years ago. forcement, social media ordinances. The Police of contacting BPD to
owner, now having 21 American solar As a leading nonprofit organization concerns and more. Department enforces report a trespasser, is
panels installed on her home by the whose sole purpose is making renew- State trespassing laws. it solely the property
clean and renewable energy group, able energy accessible to low-income Q: The matter of One of the issues slow- owner that must make
Grid Alternatives. families, Grid Alternatives IE Tribal trash and illegal ing down enforcement the call or can neigh-
Living on Alice Lane for the past 20 See solar/A5 dumping has been a is contacting property See bpd/A5