The Owen Common Council held their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 11. Under Public Comment, Dan Hooks spoke about cats. He said abuse of animals is a felony. Hooks said he feeds and takes care of 12 feral cats. Hooks feels they control issues with rats and that the city is asking for trouble if they get rid of them. He said they are hard-working, dependable animals.
The property purchase on Heartland Drive by Wild Hearts Daycare was approved along with her $8,000 offer to purchase. She will have to follow the city’s standard developer’s agreement in regard to timelines.
Mayor Scott Jalling said that he asked that feral cats be put on the agenda because people are complaining about the cats downtown. Alderperson Pam Jaffke said she has had issues with them using her flower beds as a litter box as have other property owners. She said they also decimate the bird population. A track, neuter, release program would be okay as far as she is concerned, but she said feeding these animals is not responsible behavior. Alderperson Bob Wilczek said a catch, neuter, release program will cost money and if they miss a cat they will repopulate. They also carry disease. He said they had a rodent issue when construction happened at River Country Co-op as the rats that left the vacant building had to find other places to stay warm. The Abblyland storage building was also a source. Jaffke said there won’t be rats if people don’t leave garbage out. Police Chief Patrick Fehlman quoted from the ordinance saying that if you feed a cat for more than three days, it is considered yours and that people are only allowed to have three cats. He spoke about the program that Neillsville used where they live trapped the feral cats and rehoused them to area farms. Alderperson Ray Kilty said they need to find out a cost to do something. Jaffke and Wilczek said they were willing to talk to the Clark County Humane Society to see if they could do anything to help. Alderperson Jason Thornton asked who would be responsible if a feral cat has rabies and bites a kid. Officer Jake Haugstad said the owner would be responsible and the people feeding them are considered the owners per the ordinance. The item will be brought back for further discussion once more information is gathered.
DPW Chad Smith said he uses the safety grant money each year to buy needed safety equipment for public works and that the money wouldn’t be available to purchase cameras for Mill Pond Park. He does have some money in the parks budget that they might be able to use. Smith also suggested getting Wi-Fi to the park so they could go with WI-FI cameras. The current cameras are hard wired. Thornton asked about doing Crowley Park also, but that would require WI-FI there too. Chief Fehlman said it would be a definite benefit at Mill Pond Park. Smith will check on the cost. Thornton said that the fire district paid off a truck early, so the money that was assessed to the city for that could maybe be used if they did a budget amendment.
Kilty reported on the Parks & Rec meeting. He said Prevail Bank donated $20,000 toward playground equipment. They will also be donating the funds collected during their Shred Day this spring. Once the equipment is installed the park will become Prevail Park. Mayor Jalling will be meeting with them later about sign placement.
The court date for the nuisance property on 2nd Street is March 10. May 2 was set as a possible date for the Community Clean-Up Day. DPW Smith was going to check to make sure he would have people available that day.
In regard to land for the fire department, Thornton gave an update on the grants that are not available to them. He said that a combination USDA grant/loan is still a possibility, but the grant would only cover 15% of the cost. They are still looking at options and were wondering if the city was willing to hold the land a while longer. The council voted to give the fire district the right of first refusal on the land they wanted to build on.
Under the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Jalling said that a company has been going around town and knocking on doors to give roofing and window quotes. He said they should have gotten a permit. Jalling suggested that people call city hall to make sure a company is a legitimate business if they come knocking on their door.