By Pat Culverhouse

Minden motorists have almost become accustomed to finding people standing at street intersections holding signs and asking for donations. And, the city’s chief of police said during a recent city council meeting, not all those seeking donations are on the up-and-up.

“We’ve learned through gathering intelligence that people who were standing at an intersection asking for donations actually used the money to take vacations,” Chief Jared McIver said. “In our opinion, taking money under false pretense is stealing from the public.”

McIver said out-of-town individuals have come to Minden to stand at intersections with buckets asking for money. At Monday’s meeting, he asked city council members to consider expanding an ordinance governing fundraising on city streets.

“The current ordinance covers Homer Road and streets that intersect,” he said. “I believe we should look at language covering all our streets.”

McIver asked the council to consider requiring permits for those who intend to raise money by standing at intersections, adding that his intention is not to make it difficult for local civic and non-profit organizations to use this fundraising method.

“I would ask that we require persons who are raising money in this way be from Webster Parish. I think we also should require a permit that would be issued through the police department. That would allow us to properly vet those groups and be sure the fundraiser is legitimate,” he said.

Minden residents are generous and trusting when it comes to donating, McIver said. He believes people who are collecting money with other than good intentions take advantage of those characteristics.

“We see local groups standing at intersections and our people give generously,” he said. “We support those organizations and we don’t want to make it hard for them. But to protect our people from those with selfish intentions, we think a strong ordinance would go a long way toward telling those types to stay away.”