BY MERLE MONAHAN/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
merlemonah@aol.com

WINDSOR—After the Town Council deadlocked 3-3 on a proposed ordinance that would prohibit shooting guns, Mayor Carita Richardson broke the tie by voting in favor of the new law.

Councilman Greg Willis voted against the ordinance because he didn’t want to take away the privilege. He said some residents target practice, and there were no safety issues.

Councilman Macon Edwards said he felt there were already laws to handle problems and there was no need to add more.

Town Manager Michael Stallings said the key issue is safety. Stallings said in drafting the ordinance with Police Chief Vic Reynolds, they believe many residents are responsible and safety conscious when it comes to firing guns.

“But then we have people who are not, and you can’t have an ordinance for some of the people and not others,” Stallings said.

Properties that lie in areas zoned agriculture or low-density residential will not be included under the ordinance. No gun may be discharged within 100 yards of any structure.

In other business, the council:

• Agreed to buy two new vehicles for the police department.

• Approved a policy for the town to dispose of debris after a natural disaster.

• Approved a policy requiring the town manager to present future employees to the council before they are hired.

• Discussed conducting rain barrel workshops.