Kids caught TP'ing will face fine under amended ordinance

WILLMAR -- An amendment approved Tuesday by the Kandiyohi County Commissioners could mean a $300 fine for kids caught TP'ing during homecoming week.

Under the amended nuisance ordinance, the Sheriff's Department will be able to charge people under the county's nuisance ordinance for trespassing with the intent to litter.

The ordinance will give law enforcement a tool to respond to homeowners who don't want their property targeted for homecoming pranks, said County Attorney Boyd Beccue. Most homeowners, he said, find the pranks innocuous and laugh it off.

Last year, Scott Wagar, a rural Willmar homeowner, doused kids with fox urine shot from a squirt gun as they attempted to get to his property. Wagar said he'd been the victim of unwanted homecoming vandalism for years. Wagar faced charges in connection with the incident, but all charges were later dismissed.

The amended ordinance will go into effect Friday but applies only to rural areas under county ordinance. Municipalities, such as Willmar, are not subject to the county's ordinance.