Ordinance further codifies enforcement of methamphetamine

By Mitchell Schmidt, The Gazette

November 26, 2014 | 1:03 pm

NORTH LIBERTY Officials are hoping new city ordinances will better establish local enforcement on meth lab cleanup and drug paraphernalia.

The North Liberty City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an ordinance that would allow for local citations for drug paraphernalia and further enforced cleanup when a methamphetamine operation is found.

North Liberty Police Chief Diane Venenga said the meth lab ordinance aims to ensure that when police find a meth operation and after officials remove the waste products and chemicals the landlord or property owner would be responsible for having the building decontaminated by a certified company.

Its putting the responsibility on the landlord or owner of the property to clean up or decontaminate anything remaining from the meth lab, she said. Its a health hazard and for us were taking it as a public safety issue.

Currently, the city requests that property owners or those who manufactured the meth lab pay for the cleanup process, but there is no recourse in place for those who fail to do so, Venenga said.

Venenga said recent meth labs have cost between $3,000 and $5,000 just to remove the chemicals and evidence.

With the new ordinance, a property could not be occupied until after certified decontamination.

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North Liberty ordinance would enforce cleanup for meth labs