Holton City Commission approves plans for "bark park"

A “bark park” for Holton-area dogs could be open at Countryside Park as soon as this fall, the Holton City Commission learned on Mon­day.

Members of the city’s Dog Park Committee met with the city com­mission to discuss plans for the dog park, to be built near the soccer fields at Countryside Park and named “Dogwood Park.” In addi­tion to approving plans for the lay­out of the park, commissioners also heard comments from committee members about how the park will be managed.

Commissioners were also re­minded that all funds for construc­tion of the dog park came from do­nations rather than city funds — in fact, the park’s construction was in­spired by a donation from the late Judy Hann of more than $122,200, according to dog park committee chairman Janet Zwonitzer. The park will be built and items in the park installed by city employees, Zwonitzer noted.

Holton Parks and Recreation Director Mike Reichle said the dog park committee was looking for volunteers to help build and main­tain the park, in addition to city workers.

“This isn’t going to be a small park,” Reichle said. “We’re looking at possibly opening the park this fall… We could be breaking ground on it tomorrow.”

Plans for construction of the dog park, as well as landscaping and placement of a structure that would house public restrooms and a con­cession stand that could serve all activities in Countryside Park, will take up nearly $100,000 of Hann’s donation, with the remaining $22,000 to go toward upkeep of the park, committee members noted.

The city reportedly received the $122,000 donation in March 2015 as a bequest from Hann, who died in August 2014, to build a dog park. Commissioners recom­mended the formation of a dog park committee to discuss possible loca­tions and plans for such a park be­fore the end of last year, it was re­ported.

On Monday, Reichle said the park will be built on land where the “community garden” at Country­side Park had been planted in pre­vious years; the garden is being moved to the east side of the park, it was noted. Reichle said place­ment of the new park on the west side of Countryside Park will allow for dog walkers to enter the park from Iowa Avenue.

Reichle also noted that the dog park will be set up in the same manner as most dog parks across the country, divided into two sec­tions with one side for smaller dogs and the other side for larger dogs. When asked to define the differ­ence between smaller and larger dogs, he stated that would be “the owner’s responsibility.”

Appropriate signage will be placed reminding visitors to the dog park of rules and etiquette for them and their dogs, Zwonitzer noted. Those rules would apply es­pecially to an “agility area” for dogs, which committee member Season Brown said would likely include a “dog trampoline” that is not intended for human use.

Other proposed features of the park include one-stop drinking fountains for both humans and dogs, waste stations, benches, fencing and a memorial sign to honor Hann’s donation.

“It would make Judy happy,” Reichle said of the dog park plan.

In addition to Zwonitzer and Brown, other dog park committee members include Christina Cobler, Rita Cordell and J. Richard Lake.

In other business on Monday, commissioners approved an ordi­nance changing the city’s utility billing cycles “to better serve our customers,” as Holton City Man­ager Bret Bauer explained. City Clerk Teresa Riley said the change in billing cycles will go into effect on May 1.

Bauer said city staff had received several requests to move customers from one billing cycle to another to make it more convenient for them when they have utility bills due in both cycles. Other requests had been received to adjust the due date to accommodate utility customers who cannot make bill payments until they receive their Social Se­curity checks, he added.

In the latter case, Riley noted that with recent changes in Social Security disbursement laws, senior citizens who receive the checks do not get them until after the 15th day of each month, which has been the due date for utility bills. With the approval of the ordinance, the due date is changed to the 20th day of each month, it was reported.

The ordinance combines the city’s business and residential bill­ing cycles into one, with one date for mailing bills and one due date for all utility customers, Bauer said. Riley added that in addition to helping senior citizens, it will also help city customers who were paying business and residential bills in two different cycles each month.

The ordinance was approved on a motion from Twila White, sec­onded by Tim Morris.

Commissioners also:

• Approved minutes from the commission’s March 21 regular meeting and the March 23 special meeting.

• Approved budget appropria­tions.

• Were introduced to new street department employee Tyler Miller by street department foreman Greg Tanking.

• Tabled action on a proposed amendment to city code that would allow businesses at the Holton In­dustrial Park to utilize propane tanks.

• Tabled action on a purchase contract agreement between the city and B&P Propane of Holton for B&P’s purchase of two lots at the Industrial Park.

• Discussed possible capital im­provement projects for 2016, favoring the repaving of parking lots at the city’s parks over building a road connecting Gilliland Drive near Holton City Hospital to the Holton Industrial Park. Commissioner Dan Brenner said he had received several comments from citizens who did not want to spend money on the latter project.

• Approved closure of the 800 block of Iowa Avenue from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 for a neighborhood barbecue.

• Approved renewal of a retail liquor license for Southside Liquor Store.

• Were reminded by Brenner to vote in Tuesday’s general city election. Brenner, who ran unop­posed for reelection to his commis­sion post, also reminded those pre­sent that it was the final city elec­tion to be held in the spring; in the future, municipal elections will be held in the fall per state mandate.

• Heard a comment from Bren­ner on whether the city was being “aggressive” enough in enforcing city codes on public “eyesores.” Bauer responded that McKee fol­lows up on complaints whenever received.

• Adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m. All commissioners were present.