Sheldon, Iowa — When the Sheldon City Council meets this Wednesday, October 21st, they will be presented with two resolutions related to the Police Department that are expected to be voted on at their November 4th meeting. The first would establish more of a command structure within the Sheldon Police Department to assist the Chief in afterhours decision making and provide more upward mobility for the officers. The command structure would consist of two sergeants who would be in non-union supervisory positions.
At the last council meeting Police Chief Scott Burtch expressed the need for a police K9. In response to Burtch’s comments, a local donor has stepped forward with an offer of a $15,000 contribution. The total cost of the K9 program it estimated at forty thousand dollars, which includes the dog, the equipment and officer training expenses. Burtch has recommended a dog trained in both drug detection and pursuit.
In other new business, Development Director Curt Strouth will ask for a hearing at the November 4th meeting concerning an economic development prospect. The council will also hear the 2nd reading of an ordinance amendment pertaining to urban livestock.
Items on the ‘consent agenda’ include approval of an agreement with Western Iowa Tech and SCAT for student training and a contract with Premier Communications that will make it possible for the city to improve the reliability of their plants, wells and lift stations with use of the fiber-optic network.
And the council will consider referring to the Planning and Zoning Commission a request from the Zoning Administrator to vacate a portion of West 11th Street and Railroad Avenue right-of-way. The area is located east of Western Avenue and west of Ag Partners. The request came from Ag Partners who intend to sell land in that area. It also includes a request to clean up the junkyard in that area.
Wednesday’s meeting begins at 4:30 in the upper level of the Sheldon Community Services Center. Due to the pandemic, you can attend the meeting, online, at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87814659165.
