Ottumwa aligns with Iowa’s regulations, updating its weapons policy for city facilities
OTTUMWA: The city of Ottumwa is now on the same page as Iowa law when it comes to weapons in city buildings. They’ve updated their policy to comply with state regulations.
City administrator Philip Rath shared the news during a recent council meeting. The Bridge View Center had a no-weapons rule, but after a resident raised concerns, they had to change it.
Basically, Iowa Code 724.28 says cities can’t regulate firearms in their buildings. If they do, they could face fines. So, the city had to revise their safety guidelines.
Rath explained that since the city owns the Bridge View Center, the law applies there too. The contract with VenuWorks also requires following all laws, so they had to make the change.
Last Thursday, they updated the policy to specify that items like handcuffs, utility knives, and pepper spray are still banned, but firearms are now allowed.
The original policy had been questioned by resident Katie Howard at previous meetings, but they couldn’t discuss it then. The change came after an email from a lobbyist with the Iowa Firearms Coalition pointed out the violation.
Richard Rogers, the lobbyist, noted that a law from 1990 was tightened in recent years, making it clear that cities can’t set their own rules about firearms.
Rath mentioned that if any events require stricter security, they’ll follow the law, which includes screening and armed personnel during events.
In other news, council member Rick Johnson announced he won’t run for re-election. He encouraged residents to consider running for his seat and others, emphasizing the importance of community involvement.
Johnson, who is nearing 73, wants to see good candidates step up. Council member Bill Hoffman Jr. added that anyone running should do it for the right reasons, aiming to improve Ottumwa.
