No wrestling on Sundays–St. Paul council repeals old bylaws

“Some of them are just crazy.”

Sixty bylaws were repealed at the Town of St. Paul council meeting Sept. 14 as part of an ongoing review of everything on the books.

According to Town of St. Paul CAO Kim Heyman, staff started the review last summer.

“They’re not spending a lot of time on it, we’ve got development permits and applications happening and all sorts of other things happening as well. It’s just a project that they get to when they have time,” said Heyman.

Heyman said the review is necessary because “it makes it so much harder for people to find current bylaws when there’s a whole bunch of old ones in place that are no longer relevant.”

While many of the bylaws repealed are now covered by provincial legislation, others are simply obsolete.

“This one stuck in my head, I thought it was hilarious. There was a Chinese restaurant in town and there was a bylaw that said women couldn’t eat in there after eight o’clock at night,” said Heyman. “Some of them are just crazy.”

Among the bylaws deemed obsolete or ineffective and repealed:

1942: “License & Regulation of Public Dance Hall(s), not located in a private home, need a license, respect of age restriction, no indecent manner, moral character & time closure”

1960: “Businesses & Dwellings compelled to install water & sewer services & remove privies within 12 months, penalty of $5.00 per day for any breach.”

1966: “Holding Sports & Games on Sunday afternoons, sports, games, or contests at which a fee may be charged by the organization hosting the event like soccer, golf, softball would be permitted, but all horse races, dog races, or exhibitions of wrestling are not prohibited on Sundays.”