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<br />ARCADB SURVEY IHOUIRY <br /> <br />In regards to the special use permit request from The Skill Mill <br />Arcades, the following police departments were contacted to give <br />us information on any problems that they may have had: <br /> <br />Grand Rapids; st. Cloud; Stevens point, WI; Hew U1m; <br />Albert Lea; West st. Paul; Burnsville; Bagan; <br />Xaplewood; and st. Anthony. <br /> <br />GRAND RAPIDS: The Skill Mill is located in an enclosed mall and <br />is patrolled by mall security, which also employs the Police <br />Departmentls Juvenile Officer off-duty. There have been no <br />problems with this arcade because of the Juvenile Officer knowing <br />everyone in town. The arcade has been there since 1984. <br /> <br />ST. CLOUD: The Skill Mill has been operating there since 1986. <br />There are no complaints on management or ownership; it is the <br />clientele that it attracts. It started out as a family fun center, <br />but soon the adults disappeared, and it turned out to be a hang- <br />out for teens. The teens were not allowed inside the arcade, but <br />they congregated in and outside the mall. There was an increase <br />in complaints, which included racing cars, broken glass from beer <br />bottles, and kids sitting on top of the hoods of cars. There also <br />was an increase in vandalism - spray painting, and many complaints <br />of skateboarding inside the mall. The police do have a very high <br />regard for the ownership and their corporation. <br /> <br />STEVEHS POINT: The Skill Mill is located in a Mini Mall. Their <br />biggest complaint is extensive loitering, drinking in the parking <br />lots, noisy cars, hot-rodding, and vandalism. The management does <br />monitor the kids inside, but once they go out, the monitoring <br />stops. <br /> <br />NEW ULM: The Skill Mill has been there for two years and does have <br />security guards working. The biggest problem is that it is a haven <br />for runaway kids. They have shown an increase in vandalism and <br />malicious mischief. It has been open for one year. <br /> <br />ALBERT LEA: The Skill Mill has been open for two years. No <br />problems, other than runaway kids usually end up there; as there <br />is no other place for them to go. No security guards. <br /> <br />WEST ST PAUL: They have an arcade located in Signal Hills. There <br />is internal security. The problem that the police have is that <br />there is no set time to close, so there is an increase in activity <br />late at night; especially weekends. Their problems come from pool <br />halls in the city. <br /> <br />BURNSVILLE: Their arcade is located in a strip mall and they have <br />security. There are no major problems other than the public <br />congregating outside the arcade. Their complaint is, again, no <br />control over hours of operation: the game room closes at will. <br />