Electric City discusses possible drug ordinance

Electric City is looking into adopting a drug nuisance ordinance, similar to one Grand Coulee passed in October, that would allow the seizure of known drug houses for up to a year.

State law on the abatement of drug houses, Revised Code of Washington 7.43, says that If a house is regularly the scene of police enforcement, drug use, drug dealing, or otherwise, the home could be evacuated and boarded up for a year to effectively remove any ongoing nuisances.

The process requires superior court approval to seize a house.

“If Grand Coulee is going to do this, then I think we should follow,” said Councilmember Birdie Hensley at the Nov. 13 council meeting. “I think it would help us to have the same thing in our books. I feel strongly that we should do it.”

“We wouldn’t have any clout unless there were police records that say ‘drug possession’ or ‘drug paraphernalia,’” said Councilmember Aaron Derr. “Then we can say there’s been drug activity,”

Hensley joked that they should tell drug dealers they don’t have a business license to operate in the city.

The council decided to have Clerk Russ Powers draft an ordinance for future approval of the council.