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Iowa bar billed $1,350 for calls to police

A Waterloo bar faces a big bill after more than a dozen police officers were sent to break up a disturbance there involving about 60 people.

A Waterloo bar faces a big bill after more than a dozen police officers were sent to break up a disturbance there involving about 60 people.

Club 319 was declared a chronic nuisance after police responded to several calls there, including a fight and a stabbing.  The club is one of 11 properties called a chronic nuisance since the Waterloo City Council revised its nuisance properties ordinance in May 2013.

KCRG reports the ordinance that allows for that declaration also allows the city to bill $50 for each hour of police service required at a location that has been declared a chronic nuisance property.

Police records show 17 officers were sent to clear a fight that broke out at the club just before 2 a.m. Sunday morning, November 3, 2013.

Waterloo Police Chief Dan Trelka said the fight involved more than 60 people, and four people were reportedly arrested for disorderly conduct.  Trelka said dedicating officers to that kind of incident can deny police service to other parts of the city.

“And that’s unfair to those other properties,” Trelka said.  He has vowed to continue to bill the club for police service.

The City of Waterloo issued a bill to Club 319 owners for $1,350 to cover 27 officer hours dedicated to breaking up the most recent incident.

The owner of Club 319 reportedly said they don’t think they should be responsible for people fighting outside the bar.

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