MONTAGUE — At Monday’s regular city council meeting, the council presented its idea of turning Ferry Street into a one-way street.
The council’s pitch for the move was that it would help eliminate blind-spot issues with regard to parking and aid in pedestrian crossing, therefore minimizing safety concerns. Some residents supported this, especially with Harbour Pointe senior residents choosing to exit through Church and Water streets to avoid the blind spot near Dowling Street. Other residents disagreed, one citing concerns about speeding down the Dowling hill being a more important issue. No official decisions were made and conversation on this topic will continue in the future.
The council also approved social district applications from Jimmy’z Pub and Stoney Ridge Winery. Jimmy’z was recently bought and rebranded by local businessman Dan Zuniga. Stoney Ridge is a new winery located diagonally from North Grove Brewers. City manager Jeff Auch said the winery plans to open this fall.
During public comment, a Montague resident voiced concerns about trees that were damaged by the thunderstorm in June. He said although most of the fallen trees have been cleaned up, he still has concerns about trees that are standing, but were still damaged by the storm. The resident wants the city to review these trees to ensure no large branches or entire trees fall and cause any accidents. Auch responded that the city has plans to review tree damage on Anderson Street, Cook Street and Old Channel Trail.
Already preparing for the mid-year budget review, Auch told council members they will be looking at the purchase of a new police patrol vehicle within the next fiscal year. He also informed everyone that a potential change of the mayoral term from two to four years, which the council discussed this summer, will be on November’s election ballot.
During the work session, Auch presented his ongoing efforts of rewording the vegetation ordinance and the dangerous/vicious animal ordinance. The vegetation ordinance cites details about prohibited invasive species, tree removal permits, grass cutting notices and more. Councilman Bob Hires discussed his concern about residents being fined for something that is not their fault or was out of their control, such as fallen trees. Auch will continue working with the city attorney to better the language in the ordinance.
Auch also shared updates on the dangerous/vicious animal ordinance. Multiple council members voiced their concerns about defining public and private property. Councilman Paul Schultz said he was worried about the wording taking away responsibility from the owners and does not want people to feel they cannot have guard dogs. He, along with other council members, also voiced their concerns about differences in officer discretion and personal beliefs of vicious animals. He suggested clearer guidelines, as well as a checks and balances system of some sort to require of the officers who will be enforcing this ordinance.
This ordinance is a result of a Montague resident who recently shared a personal story about her family’s conflicts with a neighboring dog versus their own. Auch will continue working with the city attorney before bringing the ordinance back to the council in October.
