City of Monona will look at dangerous animal ordinance following dog bite incidents
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The city of Monona plans to revise its ordinance regarding dangerous animals following several dog bite incidents in the community.
Monona Police Chief Jo Amsden, who made the request, said there were two dog bite incidents in April and two already in May.
“With the council’s approval, we need to update and shorten the steps the old ordinance has, so we know what process to use for handling these issues,” said Amsden at the Monona city council’s May 17 meeting.
City administrator Barb Collins agreed the ordinance, which is five pages long, is confusing.
“The biggest issue we have right now is it states that, once an animal bites a person, that we have to get the animal control board together. We have not been able to do that because the local vet stated he does not feel he is trained or has the ability to make a decision,” Collins said.
A professed animal lover other than snakes, Amsden said decisions on whether or not to put animals down are difficult.
“But we have to think of the safety of our residents, their children and their pets,” she stressed. “I sympathize with the owners in making that decision, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Collins plans to look at other cities’ ordinances and work with the city attorney on presenting a revision of the Monona ordinance.
City proceeding with solar
The council approved proceeding to the next step of adding solar to nine city locations, including wells #2 and #3, the swimming pool, community center, city hall, fire station, Gateway Park campground, city garage and Egbert Street lift station.
Eagle Point Solar representative Kent Kraus, who’s been working with the city on the potential project for nine months, spoke at the meeting, presenting data and possible financing scenarios.
The estimated project price was $415,140, with an estimated savings of $1,046,262 over 25 years if the city paid for the project up front. If the city opted for a power purchase agreement instead, where an investor covered the project, there would be little or no up front cost or maintenance for 25 years, with an estimated savings of $649,743.
The city was most interested in a power purchase agreement with a third party investor.
“We do have an investor secured,” Kraus said. “That third party would own the arrays and enter into a contract with the city to purchase the power being generated by each array for up to 25 years.”
“You’d still be purchasing some of your power from Alliant Energy at their normal rate of 15.1 cents per kWh,” he added. “But your first year combined energy costs would be $45,351, or a savings of $19,059. That’s about a 29 percent savings off the current bill.”
Pool opening this week
Collins noted the Monona Family Aquatic Center is scheduled to open Wednesday, May 26. City hall is currently taking applications for swimming lessons and for single and family pool passes.
