by Terri Kelly Barta
The Lisbon City Council considered changes in five city ordinances, introduced  a resolution for the ball to get rolling on permanent diking, and discussed manhole repair  at their Monday, November 2 meeting.
City Ordinances in review
Put on first readings were two ordinances involving increases for Lisbon residents. Both were discussed at the October city council meeting.
One was the proposal to add one half percent to the city’s sales tax, bringing it up to 7%. The additional funds are to be used for infrastructure which was damaged in last spring’s flood fight which was not  included under the money that FEMA had alloted. John Otterson offered the first reading of Ordinance No. 2009-6 which will impose an additional 1/2 percent  tax upon gross receipts of retailers from all sales at retail, including the leasing or renting of tangible personal property, within the corporate limits of Lisbon.
An ordinance to increase the water rate for the city of Lisbon was also proposed in October. At that time, the council tabled the issue until they could find out how much of a rate increase was needed to cover cost increases and help defray the cost of infrastructure repair/improvements. Since the October meeting, it has been determined that 4 cents per cubic foot would be enough, which translates to approximately $3.00/household/month. LyDell Mairs offered the first reading on Ordinance No. 2009-2 which will increase the water rate for Lisbon residents.
The second and final reading will be held at the December 7 meeting of the city council.
Ordinances 2009-3, 2009-4, and 2009 -5, relating to dogs had their second reading tabled until further discussion and new proposals by the committee. Ordinance 2009-3 was proposed to change  to read “dogs must be leashed when on public property. This includes: public sidewalks, streets, or alleys adjacent to the owner’s residence.” Ordinance 2009-4 would prohibit dog owners from walking around town with an unleashed dog. The third ordinance proposed for pets would increase fines for dogs running at-large and dogs barking.
Van Satlak and Terry Brown were on the agenda for the dog issues. Satlak owns a well-trained dog. His concern was that if ordinance 2009-3 is passed, he won’t be able to walk across the street to his neighbor’s with his dog without it being leashed nor run the dog around the neighborhood with the dog running beside him. He asked the council what prompted the change in the ordinance.
“We get a lot of complaints,” said Jerry Gemar, councilman.
Satlak asked Lisbon Police Chief Persons how many complaints and she replied, “We have had many complaints in the past year, several each week.”
Mayor Ross Cole said the concern is for all the dogs that are not trained. “My  dog has been bitten while leashed, by an unleashed dog,” said Cole, as one example.
Another resident, Paul Stroh, who was at the meeting asked if the ordinance included the fairgrounds where he runs his unleashed dog attended by him. “Yes, it would” came the answer.
“I am strongly opposed to the first two ordinances,” said Satlak.
Walt Johnson suggested possibly specifying some areas in town such as the fairgrounds for dogs controlled by their owners to run unleashed. Police Chief Persons said that would be fine.
Johnson made a motion to table the three dog ordinances until the committee could meet again and discuss options. LyDell Mairs seconded the motion. Johnson, Mairs, John Otterson, Tim Meyer, and Jerry Gemar voted in favor. Pat Adair was absent and not voting.
Resolution for permanent diking
The Council discussed getting the ball rolling for permanent diking for Lisbon. Walt Johnson made a motion to have City Attorney Don Eppler draw up a resolution for permanent diking. Tim Meyer seconded the motion. All of the above voted in favor with Adair absent and not voting.

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