Council does not consider Westwood suitable for an alternative animal control location

Despite efforts by neighbors who urged the Newton City Council to reconsider the location of the proposed animal control facility on an old landfill, officials decided during a special meeting on Oct. 25 that the alternative location near the Westwood Golf Course was also not the best choice .

Several residents living near the old landfill are opposed to the current location and have collected more than 170 signatures to push the city council to reconsider its decision.

While many are not opposed to the city getting an animal control facility — which is needed after the agreement with Parkview Animal Hospital ends — they don’t want the building near their homes. Although the property is tucked away on the 14-acre plot, they are concerned about the noise and environmental issues.

According to city documents included with the council agenda, negative aspects for the landfill include: multiple gates to access the site, gravel travel of more than two miles round trip, interfering with community groups with travel , the topography requiring significant dirt work and access to utilities.

Newton Police Capt. Chris Wing said the golf course location has better access to utilities, and that the only real drawbacks to this location are that it is outside the city limits and requires a little more distance for officers to travel, and that it would be more visible than the landfill; Wing said staff could find ways to cover it up.

Staff suggested the kennel be built just south of the dog park at Westwood Golf Course. The city noted that other positive aspects of this location are that it is located at least 200 feet from any home, is already accessible and used by dogs so the impact would be minimal and is easily accessible to community groups.

Erin Chambers, Newton’s community development director, said the property is zoned A-1 for agriculture. Commercial dog kennels are allowed under county zoning ordinances. But there are setback requirements. Chambers said the city must obtain approval through the province.

Before the special meeting with the Newton City Council, the city’s parks board met Oct. 23 to discuss the idea of establishing an animal control location near the golf course. Wing said the park board approved it 3-0, but members did have concerns about the aesthetics of the kennel.

However, the park board’s motion to approve the city’s alternative dog daycare location almost failed on the spot. Councilman Randy Ervin pointed out that park board member Jeff Osby was reluctant to even support the motion, suggesting he felt coerced into approving it.

“It was only after some more questions and more answers and some leaning on Jeff Osby before he actually supported the motion. I don’t think he wanted to support that one, and yet he pretty much did it just to preserve the thing. moving,” Ervin said. “…I don’t think their (park board) heart fully supported this.”

Wing said residents living near the Westwood Golf Course were notified by the city of the possible location of the animal shelter nearby. The police captain received no contact or feedback from those residents. Councilor Joel Mills said it seemed like too tight a time frame for property owners to respond.

“I have some general concerns and some frustrations,” Mills said. “This is a new property that we haven’t talked about yet, and I’m not in favor of learning about this now and then voting on it in front of a small group of audiences, and not on our typical Monday night.”

Other properties were considered for the animal control facility. In addition to the landfill, the Newton Police Department’s water distribution location and firearms range were other locations restricted by staff. Note that the decision to seek a fourth property was mainly due to the petitions of neighbors.

Another reason why staff provided this new information to the council is because they are short on time. The modular kennel is due for completion on November 14 and staff need the council to make a decision before then. Mills asked staff to post comparisons at the other sites, but he was against doing so at Westwood.

“Our job is to be somewhat visionary and serve on this council to change the vision of the community,” Mills said. “Maybe that could lead to long-term parking and golf course parking improvements instead of a dog kennel location in a dog park that is demonstrably not as heavily used.”

In response to Mills’ concerns, Wing reiterated that the city is pressed for time. He also noted that the Iowa Department of Transportation recently took soil samples from the landfill, which came back clean. Mills claimed the city has places where the modular kennel can be parked until it needs to be moved to its permanent home.

“I don’t want a dog kennel to come close to some of the growth opportunities for our golf course after we have a new voter-approved clubhouse,” Mills said.

Before the vote, Newton Mayor Evelyn George told council members that if the Westwood Golf Course location is voted down, staff will come to them at their next regularly scheduled meeting with another new location. The council voted unanimously against the golf course.

“You’re going to get more information from the staff and it’s going to come up again because we to have to have a location,” George said.