Establishes animal appeals board to settle issues when pets are quarantined or abated
The Jefferson city council at its Dec. 10 meeting endorsed “as a guiding document” an ambitious 5-year capital improvement plan (CIP) with a total price tag of more than $8.8 million. Projects on the plan that extend past five years include an upgrade of the city water plant, penciled in for 2034-35 at a cost of $23.6 million, and an addition and renovations at the public library, penciled in for 2037-38, at a cost of $16.6 million.
The plan was written by city staff with input from the city council. Some projects on the plan are listed with possible funding sources, but as city administrator Scott Peterson has said, the challenge now is to find funding.
Project areas named in the CIP include stormwater, sanitary sewer, water mains and other water projects, the water plant upgrade, library, airport, sidewalks, park & recreation, streets, sidewalks and trails.
The council also approved a list of goals and priorities for 2025. The list includes 11 different priorities, not listed in order of importance. City administrator Scott Peterson has said of the 11, the three top priorities are to complete the Rural Housing Readiness Assessment and develop a comprehensive plan to address housing needs; explore technologies to increase efficiency at city hall and all city operations; and to use traditional means and modern communication technology to encourage information exchange and two-way communication with the public. Click here to see the full list.
The city council listened for the last time to a resident appealing the quarantine of a dog per the city ordinance.
Sarah Olerich spoke during the open forum about her dog Boston, a 3-year-old Australian shepherd, which is now in a 10-day quarantine after he “nipped” a neighbor. The neighbor sought medical attention.
Olerich told the council she considers the current quarantine placement at the Community Animal Shelter to be punitive and said Boston is not getting appropriate care.
Police chief Mark Clouse clarified for the council that a veterinarian is available to supervise the care of dogs in quarantine and that although the city ordinance allows pet owners to quarantine their dogs at home if needed, that puts too much responsibility for enforcement on the police officers. He also reminded the council that a 10-day quarantine is required by state code.
Olerich provided a letter to the council with more detail.
However, the first item of new business on the agenda was to consider amending the city ordinance by adding a new chapter creating an animal appeals board, and amending two other related chapters.
The animal appeals board will consist of five members – the mayor, the city administrator, a city council member, the chief of police, and the police captain. The city clerk will serve as secretary of the appeals board.
Meetings of the animal appeals board are public meetings. The ordinance names who will serve on the board if one of the regular members is a party to the incident as a responding officer, a dog owner, or the victim.
Dogs that have been deemed “illegal” and abated from the community must adhere to that designation until an appeal is heard. The board will meet and decide on an appeal within 21 days of the city clerk receiving a notice of appeal.
The council approved the first reading of the ordinance. Mayor Craig Berry asked if the council wanted to waive the second and third readings, but council member Pat Zmolek said the council should hold all three readings. The second reading will take place at the council’s next meeting, Jan. 7.
The city council will no longer hear appeals from owners of animals deemed vicious or illegal. Those appeals will be heard by the animal appeals board.
The council approved a procurement policy for the city. Peterson explained such a policy is a requirement of many federal grants, including funds that are being sought for the project renovating the former middle school for housing.
The council approved increasing the façade grant to No Limits Properties LLC from $134,733 to the maximum of $150,000. The grant is for work at 121 E. Lincoln Way. Construction costs have increased substantially since the original planning was done.
