Mac Council ammends dog ordinance

The McIntosh City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, December 10, 2015 at the McIntosh Community Center. 

All members of the Council were present.

The Final Budget for the year 2016 for the City of McIntosh was passed unopposed. Budgeted revenue for the year is $963,286 and total budgeted disbursements is $963,186.

There was an amendment to the Animal Ordinance as well. The Ordinance was amended to include the wording that any designated enforcing officer for the City is able to enforce the provisions of the ordinance, meaning any City employee or elected official will be able to enforce a violation of this ordinance.

As well, the ordinance was amended to no longer include a portion of the ‘Running at large’ section of the ordinance. Any dog or other animal that is not claimed within the time specified in the ordinance may be sold or disposed of in any manner that is seen fit.

The ordinance also was modified to allow only 2 dogs per premises unless approved by the City Council, City Clerk, Animal Control Officer, or designated enforcing officer to a maximum of 3 dogs. The only way this would be allowed is if in the past more than 2 dogs have been licensed by the City. This shall not carry to other dogs if current dog is no longer being licensed.

Again, any dog or cat that is living within the City limits of McIntosh is required by this ordinance to be licensed, unless the animal is owned as a service animal which is capable of being properly identified as from a recognized school for seeing eye, hearing ear, service or guide animals, and the owner is a blind or deaf person, or a person with physical or sensory disabilities, then no license is required.

Ulteig Engineering presented the City of McIntosh with a Capital Improvement Plan. It is a five year plan and includes information about utility and street improvements and community building improvements.  The plan is meant to be used by the City staff when planning for future improvements, presented as the first step in the planning stages of a projects for scheduling and financial planning. The Council made a motion to table the Capital Improvement Plan until spring.

There were positive funds in the McIntosh Economic and Development Association fund that MEDA is able to offer for the end of the year 2015. 

An update from Marcus & Millichap, the brokers who have Poplar Meadows listed for sale, provided no progress in marketing and recommended the City lower the asking price. The Council unanimously agreed to lover the asking price of Poplar Meadows Senior Living from $2,800,000 to $2,500,000.

Councilmember Melissa Finseth reported that there was a complaint concerning the state of Cottage Avenue. The Council is in the process of looking at what can be done to improve the condition such as filling in the potholes until the road can be fixed properly.

The state of the ice rink in town was a question from Councilmember Wanda Stordahl. If the rink ever does get set up, there is someone who would be willing to give skating lessons. She also let the Council know she thought the City decorations for Christmas looked very nice and festive. She also commented and thanked the members who set up the billboard east of town.

City Clerk Elena Boianoff let the Council know that City Maintenance Manager, Larry Hedlund, was unable to have the Bjella Building sidewalls repaired, but will get sandbags to lay along the wall to prevent further leaking and will find a contractor to get it fixed in 2016 when the weather warms up.

Mayor Toby Strom informed the Council that there have been sightings of coyotes within the town. He had information about where they may be coming from and will speak with the property owners about trapping.

The Council adjourned. The first scheduled meeting for 2015 will be on January 14, 2016 at 5:30 pm at the McIntosh Community Center.