Background checks really?? Checking for what???? Mental illness, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, animal abuse, substance abuse, concealed carry permit, employment or lack there-of, voter registration, speeding ticket, littering???
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It won't be long before the school district will be doing background checks to see which families own guns, knives, and pencils!

Nose: Agreed, and that is a FACT.

factsplease: Why is it so hard for YOU to understand that the background check can be circumvented? As so many people have already posted, a person with a history of irresponsible and illegal behavior simply has another person in the party obtain the permit.

The background check for the permit is to prevent people who have a proven track record of NOT being responsible from getting a permit making them responsible for what goes on in the pavilion. If they have a history of irresponsible and illegal behavior, then they should not be given a permit. Not sure why that is hard to understand.

The background check DOESN'T make someone responsible. Signing the permit DOES make the applicant responsible. Take a look at the current Park Facility Permit. The alcohol permit is redundancy.

Why is a background check necessary to hold someone responsible? Why wouldn`t a name and address do that?

The background check is because the permit is designed to make SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE for whatever happens in that pavilion. If Saintly Aunt Mildred doesn't think she wants to be responsible for Drunken Uncle Charley's behavior at the park, then she won't want her name on that permit.

The delay makes no sense at all. It was insane enought that Sam LIE-bert brought up the idea of background checks. Then to top it off, the Police Chief is worried about appeals to those possibly denied a permit. I agree a permit should be required, but with no fee. The rental fee is enough. The "City of Parks" is fast becoming the "City of Fees". Pretty sad when the city needs to raise $3,000 with this fee. Gee, what's next, Bake sales? By the way, Councilman Kealy should be commended for his common sense approach to spending.

So some of the additional income will be used for background checks? How stupid is that? If the 'Smith' family is planning to rent a pavilion for a reunion who will they send to get the permit? Saintly Aunt Mildred or drunkin' Uncle Charley?
Does anyone know a group of heavy drinking rowdies that will pay an extra $50 to drink in the park? If so, do they know a 'clean' person that could apply for the permit?
It seems that the whole delay comes down to the biggest fear of the city council and administration which is that someone in Janesville is having fun without city supervision.

Yes the background check is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

wortnik hits the nail on the head. You can always find someone with clean record to get the permit. If you are that worried maybe do a background check on everyone who attends.

This is an open invitation to every city council member, committee member, Gazette editorial board member, Rock County against all alcohol committees, and any other interested citizen...

Please come to one or two...or more...concerts of "Music at Harry's Place" in Riverside Park in Beloit before you condemn alcohol in parks.

For most of you, you are clueless on this subject.

Sam Liebert...you especially.

Does a lot of what the city does make sense? No. If you pretend its 1950 and the hardest decision they have to make is what color flowers to plant in the town garden... then yes, this would be a difficult decision.
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Back ground checks on this would be like background checks on R rated movie renters. They just take the movie home and everyone watches it.

Looks like Janesville Mobilizing for Change has a tough job trying to change THIS community.

Delaying votes continues to give the Council a purpose for another meeting. Background checks for a couple hour alcohol permit??? You've got to be kidding! Let's get as many of those bad citizens on file as we can. I suppose next, some goofus will suggest that we have to register our firearms!!!

I don't think Janesville Mobilizing for Change should be worrying about what other people's children may or may not think. Its none of their business in my opinion.
It would be interesting to read the Gazette's perspective on this in tomorrow's newspaper. Do you have electronic-only subscriptions yet?
I'm just sayin'...and waitin'...

The delay is more of the coucil putting off things. IT isn't rocket science. Stop putting things off ALL of the time. IT doesn't make you look busier!

Do the background checks make sense? in a word, No. If the applicant 3 days in advance of the event would have "something" that would halt the permit from being granted, What's to stop another family member or friend from applying instead. Possibly a better idea would to post a security deposit on the reservation that would be forfeited if the pavilion is left in poor conditions and/or a Police call was required.

If the question is, was it wise for the council to step back two weeks to consider ideas brought up during the public hearing and council discussion. My answer is Yes take the time and think. Nothing is worse than a hasty decision made on the fly after hearing new areas of concern. That's how the illogical sidewalk policy was formulated back in the early 2000's.

People often say, there is nothing to do in Janesville. I suggest the problem is that we cannot do what we want to do in janesville. The city must have a very long history of irresponsible behavior considering its fondness of restrictive ordinances. The "city of parks" has a bunch of empty parks because the restrictions make them only suitable for the WCTU. that is if they don't want to take their dogs with them.