Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By ZACHARY MARANO
MERCER, Wis. — The town of Mercer board of supervisors voted to repeal an ordinance passed requiring that any person residing in the town keep their dog tied and upon their own premises on Thursday. The town will now adhere to the Iron County animal ordinances.
“The sheriff’s department and the health department work together with dog bites,” supervisor Eric Snow said. “All that stuff is very thoroughly tracked. I believe it’s not even a three-strike policy. I believe if there’s a second aggressive act, the health department steps in. … Anything that gets brought to the town should just be directed towards the sheriff’s office.”
The board considered implementing an annual charge for heavier trucks over a certain weight limit to use town roads while road limits are in effect, but no action was taken. Chairman John Sendra said that this charge would discourage trucks from using and damaging their roads during the times when they are most vulnerable. He said that a similar ordinance exists at the county level.
Snow said that permits could be issued on a case-by-case basis, so emergency services and waste management may have to pay the charge. However, he said, this matter should be thoroughly documented so the town can track who damages the roads. Town clerk Debbie Hohner suggested having groups that want to use the town roads fill out a form, so they will have a paper trail.
“I think that the form is a great idea, however, there are going to be emergent circumstances where they’re not coming in to see you,” town attorney Fritz Schellgell said. “Everybody knows that the person has got to fill out the form and get prior approval. If it’s urgent, then a supervisor will approve it and we’ll call them the next morning. If there’s no approval, whether prior or the next morning, we’ll find out who it is.”
Sendra said that the town board would leave things as they are for now and consider setting a charge at later date.
The town board also:
—Set the date and time of the next board of review for 9-11 a.m. on Oct. 12.
—Awarded a paving bid to the Eagle River-based contractor Pitlik and Wick Inc. in the amount of $345,029.
—Returned the rental and cleaning fees for the Mercer Park Pavilion to the town of Mercer Parks and Recreation Board funds.
—Adopted Municipal Services Bureau for electronic payment processing, which will allow people to pay their taxes online.
—Approved the new Business Park policies and covenants as recommended by the town of Mercer Planning and Zoning Committee.
—Granted a conditional use permit for Lot 4 of Secluded Sanctuary, a tourist rooming house permit for 2510W Martha Lake Road and a land use permit for a living space above a previously permitted accessory building on 1910W Beaver Lake Road.
—Rezoned Midwest Forest Products on 2654 W. Portage Ave. in Mercer from l-1 industrial to C-1 commercial.
