Scott County OKs 'social host' law

Amid accusations that suburbs are ganging up to impose their own ideas on rural areas, the Scott County Board on Tuesday approved a controversial "social host" law that will apply to the 11 lightly populated townships patrolled by sheriff's deputies.

A board that strives to keep its televised proceedings relatively genial flared up into moments of exasperation as it debated the matter after a lengthy public hearing.

"There's way too much gray area here," declared Commissioner Joe Wagner, who represents townships in the southwest quadrant. "The idea that three [city-based] commissioners are dictating policy in the townships! It's fundamentally wrong!"

But board Chairman Jon Ulrich, of Savage, said the merits of the case are so deeply stacked in favor that he was tempted to remain silent.

"I've seldom seen such a controversial issue that to me is so one-sided, so compelling in favor of this," he said. "The arguments against are exceedingly weak."

At issue was whether to strengthen the laws applying to adults who knowingly enable underage drinking in their homes or in other settings over which they have authority. Prior Lake has taken that step already, and New Prague will consider it soon.

The 3-2 vote pitted the three suburban board members from the county's northern reaches against the two from the south. The law takes effect July 3.

There was some confusion over the official positions of township leaders. Sheriff Kevin Studnicka said that five town boards supported the law, one remains silent and three formally notified him of their opposition.

Representatives of two other townships, Blakeley and Louisville, turned up at the meeting to denounce it, but the sheriff added: "Blakeley and Louisville never provided any feedback, support or nonsupport, other than what they provided here today. This is the first time I'd been informed they did not support it."

Rural commissioners said the county should wait to act until cities such as Savage and Shakopee, represented by the commissioners on the prevailing side, impose the law on their own citizens.

In addition to the sheriff and county attorney, all of the county's police chiefs supported the law. The sheriff and some commissioners said they believe that cities are waiting for the County Board to move ahead before they do.

Although few if any dispute that adults should not provide alcohol to teenagers, those testifying at the public hearing disagreed over how fairly the justice system will determine that a person knew or should have known what was going on.

Robert Wagner, a township supervisor in Blakeley, pointed to disagreements he encounters over how to control teen drinking at graduation parties.

One person he questioned said that underage kids will know to stay away from the beer cooler, he said. Another would post a sign reminding them of that. He himself sees to it that IDs are checked. But still others would go farther, taking steps to ensure for instance that kids aren't sneaking liquor in and mixing it with their pop. At stake, he said, could be a lawsuit that could cause a family to lose its farm.

An insurance agent responded that that's one reason people should be insured. And County Attorney Pat Ciliberto said the law won't apply unless you "knowingly allow underage drinking."

Police chiefs said it's a myth that Scott County is filled with nothing but sensible parents at risk of being caught out by sneaky drinking. In reality, they say, they come across parties at which dozens of kids are openly drinking, some to the extent of passing out, with full knowledge of parents who decide it's safer happening at home than elsewhere.

"How much is a kid's life worth?" asked Bill O'Rourke, police chief in Prior Lake. "Too many adults think it's OK to provide alcohol in the misbelief that ... 'they'll do it anyway, but I'll take their car keys away.' That hasn't worked."

David Peterson • 952-882-9023

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To view the debate, go to Scott County's website, www.co.scott.mn.us, choose "View County Board Meetings" on the right side and select the June 2 session.