Aplington council approves variety of ordinances

APLINGTON – Several new city ordinances were approved in Aplington following the city council’s first meeting of the new year last Wednesday.

The full text of the ordinances are available at Aplington City Hall and are summarized below:

Urban chickens

Ordinance 218-23 modified the city code regarding urban chickens - six chickens are allowed per tract of land, regardless of how many dwelling units are on the tract.

The chickens may run in a fenced backyard during daytime hours as long as an enclosure or chicken pin is available during both daytime and evening hours.

Stored manure must be kept in a fully-enclosed structure, with no more than three cubic feet dedicated to manure storage.

No chickens are allowed to be kept inside of a dwelling or rental unit or on a vacant or uninhabited tract of land, and no roosters are allowed.

Snow and ice removal

Ordinance 219-23 states that parking is prohibited on all streets and alleys, including city right-of-way and city parking, during snow removal operations unless the snow has been already removed or plowed and snow has ceased to fall.

Vehicle owners are advised to find suitable private property parking during snowfall.

Waste collection fees

Solid waste collection and disposal fees are $20 per month, a change made in Ordinance 221-23, for collection of not more than one approved container per week. The fee will be reduced to $12 while a residency is vacant and will not be suspended for winter vacations.

Wording on another ordinance, 220-23, omitted a $25 increase for snow route parking violations over 30 days and will be included in the amended ordinance, to be re-introduced at the Feb. 15 meeting.

Holli Harken provided an update on the city pool project and fundraising efforts and the council approved One Design & Engineering for the pool concept design service.

Public Works Director Jeff Ridder reported on dump truck repairs and noted the building for Dumont Telephone will be set in place on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

The council also discussed dead trees and reviewing ordinances about trees in the City Park with councilmember Brett Lage saying he will look into applying for a DNR grant for replacing trees.

City Clerk Deb Prier reported to the council on the two students that have started taking EMT classes for the Aplington ambulance department.

As part of start-of-year business, Mayor Jason Mehmen made the following appointments for 2023: Mayor ProTem – Alan Meyer; Chief of Police – Matt Lind; Library Board – Paul Hosch, Marilyn Klooster, Lee Harken, Kasey Sents, Sally Nevenhoven; Cemetery Board – LaVerne Eilers, Byron Johnson, Diane Meyer, Jim Ridder, Alan Meyer, with the City Clerk to maintain records; Finance Committee – Uhlenhopp, Schipper, Meyer; Utilities – Jacobs, Uhlenhopp Lage; Streets – Schipper, Lage, Meyer; Butler County Solid Waste Commission – Deb Prier.

In other business, the council: