The Prairie du Chien Common Council unanimously approved the ordinance restricting cellphone use in schools at their July 21 meeting.

"Statewide there continues to be issues with cellphone use in the schools," said Police Chief Kyle Teynor.

The State of Wisconsin passed Act 42, which requires school districts restrict cellphones and other "personal wireless devices" in classrooms. Teynor said the PdC school district already had a policy in place at the time the act passed this past fall.

He added that the ordinance was born out of talks with the district's school resource officer and a recent Truancy Review Board meeting with a family. "We met with a family late in the school year that was at their wits end with their student and really begging us for more tools to get their student to stop using their cellphone."

Teynor and City Administrator Chad Abram reached out to other police departments and communities to see what had worked in other areas. Local ordinances are one of the solutions municipalities have used to help enforcement. Teynor said passing ordinances restricting cellphone use in schools is "common practice" in municipalities.

According to Teynor, the ordinance wouldn't affect the school's existing policies regarding cellphone usage, and referrals have to come from the school administration before law enforcement can be involved.

"This is a tool the administrators can use when their detentions, suspensions, in-school suspensions, out-of-school suspensions, their $10 fines, their communications with parents all fail," he said.

The ordinance has multiple exemptions for classroom-approved use and emergency situations approved by the school's administration. It also gives law enforcement the ability to issue a citation for "repeated or willful violations" on school property that are referred by the school administration. The citation could include a forfeiture of between $25 and $100.

According to Teynor, another option would be to refer the student to teen court, a program in which teens act as different facets of the court system to address juvenile offenders (e.g., lawyers, judges).

"I'm a huge proponent of teen court," he said. "I think it really works as far as students holding other students responsible for their actions. They come up with really unique ways to hold these kids responsible — not a fine or a forfeiture but things along the line of education."

Teen court is utilized for minors between the ages of 11–18 for non-violent misdemeanors or violations. Teynor said the court is typically used for first-time offenders, but exceptions have been made in certain circumstances.

Alderman Jaaren Riebe clarified the ordinance would refer students to municipal court or teen court, not criminal court.

Teynor informed the Prairie du Chien School District of the ordinance the weeks before the meeting. The Board of Education formally supported the ordinance.

The Council held two public hearings regarding vacating two pieces of property. The Council passed the initial resolutions for the properties at their June 9 meeting. Riebe said he asked for the public hearings to give the community a chance to give feedback to the City.

The first property was a portion of Fowler Street west of South 22nd Street.

Zoning Commissioner Cassie Rickleff said the section under consideration was unplatted road. "It's a portion of Fowler that runs into private property. It doesn't go anywhere."

She added that the vacated roadway would be divided evenly, with one side given to each of the property holders.

The second property was an an alley running north and south between Beaumont Road and 3rd Street.

"This is an alley that has not been developed," said Rickleff. "It's been requested by the neighbors — they've all signed an affidavit to ask that it would be vacated. It's unimproved."

Rickleff said the alley is on the block between Wells and Broadway streets in close proximity to the New Spit and Whistle.

Rickleff said she had not receive any objections or concerns from city residents regarding either resolution.

The Council unanimously approved resolutions to vacate the two properties.

In attendance were alderpersons Nick Crary, Vicki Waller, Bob Granzow, Jaaren Riebe, Todd Crotty, Kayla Ingham and Andy Ringgold. Nate Bremmer was absent. Teynor, Mayor Mark Gillitzer and Rickleff were also present.

Council tabled a proposed ordinance regarding electric scooter use within the city limits.