The Owen Common Council held their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 22. After approval of the minutes, they went into closed session with city attorney Harold Wolfgram for just over an hour to discuss the police agreement and the 2nd Street nuisance property. When they came into open nothing was announced in regard to the police agreement but they decided to have the police chief proceed with the steps to abate the nuisance property on 2nd Street.
Prior to the council meeting, the Ordinance Committee met to discuss the proposed fowl ordinance. Chief Fehlman expressed his concern for the egg farms in our area, saying that sometimes that was the family’s entire income. He said if they do allow chickens in the city, he could not imagine that those having chickens would maintain the required health and sanitation standards that the egg farms do. He felt that the farms needed to be protected. The quarantine area if a bird gets sick is 10 kilometers, so the farms wouldn’t be allowed to operate until the state said so. He said cattle can also be affected. He felt the ordinance should stay as is. They then moved on to the idea of enforcing the current ordinance. DPW Chad Smith said he agreed with Chief Fehlman. He said it would be more headaches than it was worth to change the ordinance. Fehlman said he talked to the Loyal Chief, where they had also decided on no chickens. Fehlman also said they don’t have any place to store loose chickens. It was noted that at least four or five residents have chickens currently. The state requires that all fowl be registered with them. Committee member Brian Bredlau questioned how much time would be spent on making sure those with chickens are obeying the ordinance if they were allowed. Scott Jalling also felt chickens should not be allowed in the city limits. Fehlman said rather than just seize the chickens, he felt some leniency was in order to start. Those with chickens need to come up with a plan. Citations will be issued after 45 days of non-compliance. The fine would be $100 to $500. The committee voted to recommend no change in the ordinance to the council and allowing 45 days for those who currently have chickens to remove them. Feral cats were also brought up and will be discussed on a future agenda.
The proposed fowl ordinance was discussed by the council. Chief of Police Patrick Fehlman said they had a discussion at the ordinance committee meeting prior to the council meeting to discuss the positives and negatives. The current ordinance does not allow chickens or any other fowl within the city limits. He said they talked about leaving the ordinance as is and enforcing it. They would give those who currently have chickens time to make arrangements to get rid of them and comply with the ordinance. The police have had some complaints and they had to catch a chicken running loose in a neighbor’s yard. Fehlman talked about the health and sanitation standards that the area egg farms need to comply with. There would be a quarantine zone that shut those operations down if there were a chicken in the city that got bird flu. They will give people 45 days to comply with the ordinance, then proceed with writing citations. Alderperson John Mauel said that none of the people who have chickens ever asked if it was allowed. Alderperson Ken Martine felt the time schedule should be Chief Fehlman’s choice. No action was taken as there will be no change to the ordinance.
The council approved Mayor Jalling’s committee appointments. Dan Renderman no longer lives in the city and will be replaced on the Planning Committee by Jim Scheuer. Jim wanted off of the Parks & Recreation Committee and will be replaced by Hailey Wyro on that committee.
Clerk Tracy Rau and Deputy Clerk Kelly Booth were approved to attend WMCA training in La Crosse on August 19-22. City Hall will be closed while they are gone. DPW Chad Smith said this will allow them to do the needed driveway work. He suggested the police ask Mueller Automotive if they can park there during that time.
Under the Mayor’s Report, Jalling said the centennial event held on July 19 was very successful. Alderperson Bob Wilczek thanked the public works department for cleaning up the bridge after the fireworks.
Under Other Reports, the Fire District was discussed. Alderperson Jason Thornton said they would have a meeting soon. The council had previously said the District should make the city an offer for the land. The council suggested that the city could trade the land for the current Fire Hall. This could be sold by the city to help pay for the road for the new Fire Hall, if the District decides to proceed with the building. The city won’t pay for the soil samples.