Council sweeps through nuisances

The Hebron City Council reviewed several nuisance properties Monday evening, giving updates and issuing future plans for the properties.
At 210 Eads Ave., a 30-day notice was issued Jan. 5. Action was not taken. The council voted to do away with all structures on the property.
The property owner of 133 S. 7th St., submitted a plan to the city prior to the meeting, and it was accepted. The owner has until the end of the summer to comply, which will be Sept. 1.
The council discussed 724 Union Ave. and noted the property is looking better, however, the basement needs to be inspected for sewage.
Three issues remain at 226 S. 5th St., which is for sale.  
Bricks, a mower and a piece of old playground equipment need to be removed, Councilman Kurk Wiedel said.
“If you’ve got a mower outside, just put it in,” Wiedel said. “Everything else is fine. It looks wonderful, thank you.”
In other business, the dog ordinance will remain on the agenda as the city encourages dog owners to attend the council’s March meeting to give input on the council’s revised ordinance concerning dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs.
That is the language preferred by dog owner, Kyra Welch.
Some dogs have the potential to be dangerous, but they are not necessarily dangerous, Welch said.
She would like the ordinance to reflect dogs as potentially dangerous instead of simply dangerous, which carries a stigma, specifically about pit bulls.
Councilman Jay Bauer said he doesn’t trust pit bulls.
“They’re dangerous. They have a mean streak in them,” Bauer said.
“I think mauling is the issue,” Councilman Larry Fangmeier told Bauer.
Wiedel said if a pit bull is seen outside in a front yard without a muzzle, law enforcement needs to step in.
The city’s new dog ordinance will also limit the number of dogs and cats a resident is allowed to own. It will need to contract with another city to shelter impounded dogs.
The council hinted toward a 72-hour confinement time limit for potentially dangerous dogs.
The council also discussed the possibility of a sidewalk on Barger Street and its location. Wiedel cautioned the sidewalk would need to be ADA accessible. Instead of the south side of the street, the city looked to the right side as a more feasible location.