A vote was taken and a decision made, but the debate in Fremont hasn’t ended. Mayor Don Edwards broke a tie by the City Council Tuesday night, voting down a proposed ordinance that would have made it against the law to knowingly hire or rent to illegal aliens.

The issue was so controversial that the City Council meeting had to be moved to Fremont High School where more than 1,000 people turned out, required to walk through metal detectors to enter the auditorium.

City leaders heard more than three hours of public testimony. Some spoke in favor of the ordinance, referring to medical costs, job losses and increased crime as part of the impact illegal immigrants have had on the community. Those against it called it divisive and discriminatory.

Dozens of law enforcement officers were on hand from the Fremont Police Department, Dodge County Sheriff's Department and Nebraska State Patrol.

It was the second of what was supposed to be three hearings on the issue with a final hearing and vote scheduled for August 26th.

But the council decided to suspend its rules and immediately take a final vote, which ended in a 4-4 deadlock. Mayor Edwards cast the deciding vote against the measure. “I vote no.”

Citizens and non-citizens would have had to obtain a $5 occupancy license to rent a home or apartment. Renters without licenses or landlords renting to people without licenses would have each been subject to a fine.

The issue still has people talking. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on who you ask.

The International Bakery has been at East 2nd and North Main streets for five months and has established a diverse customer base. "A lot of people, a lot of white people, they come here and they love bread, Mexican bread, they love our stuff,” says Carlos Barranco.

That is until recently when the illegal alien ordinance was first proposed. "The last two to three weeks, we had a lot of business down,” says bakery owner Antonio Granillo.

Operators suspect the proposal stirred up a lot of bad feelings and generating some fear among Hispanics. "A lot of people think Fremont is not a good place to live because white people is like racist," says Barranco.

Small business owner Dana Mackey says the community is united and its issues are not unique. "I really think this is just part of the process that the whole nation is gonna go through before this thing is settled."

While he didn't support the ordinance, he says the debate has been healthy. "Dialogue is needed and the masses have to come together. They have to come together and we have to work together."

It’s a sentiment echoed by those at the International Bakery. "I hope this is a problem from the past so we should work for a better Fremont."

In time, Barranco hopes the division he sees will fade, for the bakery's bottom line and for the community's spirit.

The city councilman who proposed the ordinance, Bob Warner, is not planning on running again after his term expires in December. Mayor Edwards is organizing a community task force to examine the issue of illegal immigration further, working with state and federal lawmakers.