Casey Moves to Curb Park Vandalism With Cameras, Possible E-Bike Ban

Casey City Council Meeting | May 18, 2026

Article Summary: The Casey City Council on Monday, May 18, 2026, discussed installing cameras and potentially banning electric and gas-powered bikes at the city park in response to ongoing vandalism that officials said has damaged roughly $450,000 worth of park facilities. No formal vote was taken; the matter remains under discussion.

Casey Park Vandalism Response Key Points:

• Officials said vandalism — including tire marks and drawings on the skateboard and basketball areas — has been carried out largely with electric bikes.
• Mayor Mike Nichols said he wants to explore banning electric and gas-powered bikes at the city park, and possibly citywide.
• City Attorney Tracy Willenborg said a 2023-era change to state law allows municipalities to regulate such bikes on their own streets and public property.
• The city is expediting camera installation at the park to identify those responsible; no ordinance was voted on.

CASEY — The Casey City Council on Monday, May 18, 2026, weighed new measures to stop a wave of vandalism at the city park, including installing surveillance cameras and potentially banning electric and gas-powered bicycles, after officials said the damage has reached roughly $450,000 in city investment.

Mayor Mike Nichols raised the issue during the police report, saying he is working with Chief of Police Adam Henderson and City Attorney Tracy Willenborg to expedite cameras at the park. “Most of you know there’s been some additional vandalism down there and it’s been done with electric bikes primarily, with peel outs and drawings on the skateboard area and on the basketball area,” Nichols said.

Nichols said he wanted to explore banning the bikes, ideally citywide but at minimum at the park. “I want to see about the possibility of banning those electronic and gas powered bikes in the park. I’d like to do it citywide since most of the ones that’s causing the trouble seem to be on that,” he said.

Willenborg told the council that municipalities have legal authority to regulate the bikes. She said the relevant statute “was revised in the last couple years to allow municipality to regulate it on their own streets and public property.” She added that she had recently drafted a similar regulation for another community and that another municipality facing significant vandalism had passed an ordinance addressing community service and parental responsibility.

There was discussion among council members about whether the city could instead require registration of the bikes rather than ban them outright. Willenborg said the city could require registration and adopt regulations on its streets. One council member voiced reluctance to penalize responsible owners. “I hate to punish a hundred people that have one and are using them properly because one dingdong went down there,” the member said, while acknowledging that an outright ban remained on the table if necessary.

Nichols said he and Henderson have already visited the park and have a visit scheduled from the camera vendor to get footage installed as soon as possible. “We’re going to try to get that implemented in cameras down there ASAP so we can get some footage of whoever are doing this and get them brought to justice,” Nichols said. He appealed for community help in identifying those responsible, asking residents who witness the activity to call the chief.

No formal action was taken; the discussion is expected to return after Willenborg confers further with the police chief.