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Campers still allowed at Wal-Mart Council opts against banning camping in parking lots Staff Writer Baxter has scrapped a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited camping within parking areas of city businesses.
After lengthy discussion, the Baxter City Council Tuesday passed a motion to not pursue such an ordinance. With no ordinance, a section of Wal-Mart Supercenter's conditional use permit, stating no overnight parking would be allowed at the superstore per city ordinance, is void.
The issue came about because of the number of campers that have parked at Wal-Mart's previous store on Highway 371, especially during the annual NHRA event at Brainerd International Raceway. Kirk Helmberger, Wal-Mart manager, said about six campers parked in the store's parking lot in 2004. He said Wal-Mart nationwide has allowed and even encouraged campers to stay overnight in their parking lot.
"We really don't have a big issue, in my opinion, with overnight camping," Helmberger told the council Tuesday. "I haven't had any issues with it as far as trouble. If I have an issue with a camper, I make them move."
Baxter Police Chief Jim Exsted said his officers wouldn't have a problem enforcing such an ordinance, but he didn't think it was necessary as there are already laws against trespassing.
Exsted said other retailers, such as Target and Fleet Farm, don't want campers in their parking lots and when they call the police department about them, police officers ask the campers to leave.
"So it's kind of redundant when we have trespassing laws," Exsted said about the proposed ordinance.
"I think our police officers are busy enough ... without having to kick people out of parking lots," said council member Gary Muehlhausen.
Council member Mark Cross said he was upset that Wal-Mart's conditional use permit, approved in 2003, stated no camping was allowed per a city ordinance. He said he would like Wal-Mart excluded from the motion to not pursue a no-camping ordinance.
"I don't like getting skirted on a legal issue. It's pretty clear what our intent was," Cross said.
Cross' amendment, however, wasn't included in the motion voted upon.
In other action, the council:
Held a moment of silence for Sgt. Jacob Pfingsten, a former Baxter resident who died while on military duty Feb. 12 in Germany following a short illness.
Passed a resolution to amend the JOBZ district to include Stern Industries in the Baxter Industrial Park, set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. April 5 at city hall to consider a request from Stern Industries for a JOBZ business subsidy and instructed staffers to engage legal services to draft a business subsidy agreement for Stern Industries.
Set a public hearing on the Cherrywood Drive improvement project for 7:30 p.m. March 15 at city hall.
Rescheduled a joint city council and Baxter Utilities Commission meeting for 6 p.m. March 23 at city hall to discuss the Benshoof Cypress Drive report.
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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