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Following complaints, Monona plans review of snowmobile ordinance

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By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

 

Monona Police Chief Jo Amsden is asking the city council to consider updating Monona’s snowmobile ordinance, citing recent issues with several out-of-town riders.

 

“We’ve had some complaints of people riding on personal property, nearly missing fire hydrants, almost hitting a house,” she told the council at its Jan. 18 meeting. “They probably aren’t aware they can’t ride into town, so we just need to post it so everybody knows about it.”

 

Amsden said the offenders, who were from Waukon, had already been identified and were either cited or soon would be.

 

“We don’t want to make any waves,” she added. “We just want everybody to be on the same page.”

 

Amsden felt especially bad for the local Clayton County Snowbirds snowmobile club, which puts a lot of effort into marking and maintaining trails, then encouraging riders to follow those routes. 

 

A member of the club, Dave Smith, said it’s the same each year.

 

“The young’uns who own snowmobiles, they just think, if it’s white I ride on it. They don’t care where they’re going or what they’re doing,” he remarked. “If everyone followed the rules, we wouldn’t have an issue.”

 

Smith said the club is willing to post information on its website and Facebook page, so snowmobilers are aware of the rules.

 

“We’re here to help too,” he said.

 

City administrator Barb Collins noted that one resident had already requested that the topic be on an upcoming agenda. She plans to bring the city’s ordinance and map for reference.

 

“We just need to amend it so it’s more toward this day and age,” Amsden said. “If you want anything put in it, let’s change it.”

 

During her time with the council, Amsden also provided an update on the department’s 2020 activities. She said the number of calls for service were down from the previous year, as were narcotics cases and fines paid. Criminal charges were down as well, but juvenile charges remained the same. There were increases, however, in OWIs, assaults, domestics and accidents.

 

“I think, all in all, we did pretty good this past year,” she said.

 

Councilman John Elledge pinpointed domestic issues and mental illness, instances of which he said were almost double from the previous year.

 

“What do you need from the city to get better tools to help you with that?” he asked.

 

Amsden said the problem isn’t unique to Monona.

 

“Everybody has it. The state cut funding and neighboring hospitals don’t want them. They want us to take them right to Dubuque or Waterloo. And if we get them down there, they might not keep them. It’s frustrating,” she acknowledged, “but it’s out of you guys’ hands.”

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