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Rotten apples spoil the whole barrel

Rental inspection ordinances and “snowbird” ordinances seem to be dominating city council discussions in the area.
Last week in Brownton, a resident complained about the city’s amendement to its winter parking ordinance, which prohibits parking on city streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. from November to April — regardless of snowfall.
Monday night in Stewart, council members once again heard a complaint about its rental inspection ordinance, with claims that it was over reaching. Silver Lake also is currently considering a rental inspection ordinance, and the issue is on its Feb. 17 agenda.
In both the Brownton and Stewart instances, complainants had valid points. Why should people not be allowed to park overnight on city streets when there is no snow event? And why should good landlords be subject to inspection fees when they are already doing their best to protect their tenants’ safety?
Sadly, it is always a few violators that lead to government creating ordinances and laws that impact everyone.
It’s the chronic violator of the winter parking ordinance that causes city councils to subscribe to the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) theory to create laws that allow little misinterpretation of their intent.
It’s the bad landlord who creates situations that causes city councils to adopt far-reaching rental ordinances that try to address every possible situation and close every loophole.
Unfortunately, government cannot target specific groups for its ordinances. A rental ordinance applies to the good landlord and the bad. The snowbird ordinance applies to the person who flaunts it as well as the person who conscientiously tries not to impede snow removal.
It is, indeed, a case of the tail wagging the dog, but there seems to be no help for it. Until people use common sense in following ordinances, those of us who actually possess it will be the ones to suffer.
Government always steps in to police those who do not police themselves. Want more relaxed ordinances? Help your neighbor police himself. When common sense finally prevails, there will be no need for the government to overly intervene.