Local officials believe cooperation with surrounding counties could make a proposed keg ordinance more effective in Story County.

If passed, the keg registration ordinance would require keg purchasers in Story County to provide sellers with a current photo identification and address.

“I feel very strongly that this needs to be a statewide ordinance to be effective,” Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco said.

Story County Supervisor Jane Halliburton said although a statewide law would be ideal, it does not cancel out the importance of enacting an ordinance at the local level.

Boone and Jasper are two surrounding counties considering a similar keg ordinance.

Dave Reed, Boone County supervisor, said the ordinance was brought to his attention by the Story County Board of Supervisors.

“We are looking very seriously at it,” Reed said.

Reed said he has attended several Story County meetings concerning the keg ordinance to educate himself.

“I do not know if ours will be exactly the same,” Reed said. “We will look at the finished product.”

Denny Carpenter, Jasper County supervisor, said the county has considered a similar ordinance but still has questions. He said he wants to know what kind of burden the ordinance would put on the Jasper County Sheriff.

The other four counties that surround Story County — Polk, Marshall, Hamilton and Hardin — are not considering adopting a similar ordinance.

“Let’s be honest,” said Erv Miller, Hardin County supervisor. “What is to stop someone from hopping over county lines to get a keg?”

Miller said Hardin County, home of Ellsworth Community College, is not considering a keg ordinance anytime in the near future.

“I do not sense a need for it,” Miller said. “If the need rises, we will certainly do something with it.”

Hamilton County Auditor Kim Schaa said the county would wait to see what happens in the state Legislature.

Halliburton said consistency from county to county is necessary in bringing the keg ordinance to the state level.

Having something similar to the pseudoephedrine ordinance become a statewide law is an example of what could happen with the keg ordinance, she said.

At a ceremony March 22, Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a bill similar to the pseudoephedrine ordinance Story County was considering, which would have restricted the availability of medications that contain the ingredient.

“The activity of local governments was very instrumental in moving forward,” Halliburton said.

On the agenda for Tuesday’s Story County Board of Supervisors meeting is a discussion of the county’s pseudoephedrine ordinance, which the board passed on Feb. 22.

Halliburton said Story County Attorney Stephen Holmes has suggested the ordinance be repealed to avoid confusion between the county and state laws, which could create problems for retailers.

“We will take action to accept or reject the repeal next week,” Halliburton said.

In dealing with the keg ordinance, Halliburton said the process is taking longer than the pseudoephedrine ordinance did at the state level, but it is progressing.