Elk Mound increases fines for false alarms
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
ELK MOUND — Property owners in Elk Mound will now be assessed a $250 fee for a second false alarm, $500 for a third false alarm and $1,000 for a fourth false alarm.
The Elk Mound Village Board approved changing the ordinance pertaining to false alarms from “location” to “property owner” and increasing the fee amounts at the October 21 meeting.
The first false alarm would be at no charge, said village trustee Tim Benjamin, who is chair of the public safety committee.
The public safety committee met October 9 and recommended that the village board change the ordinance from “location” to “property owner” and also recommended increasing the fines.
Under the previous ordinance, a property owner could own several locations, and each of the separate locations could have a false alarm or two false alarms in a year’s time that dispatched the police department, but the property owner would never be fined because the first and second offenses were “no charge.”
Under the amended ordinance, after the first false alarm, for the second false alarm the property owner will be assessed a fee of $250.
For the third false alarm, the fee is $500, which is a $400 increase over the previous fee of $100.
For a fourth false alarm, the fee is $1,000, which is an $800 increase over the previous fee of $200.
The Elk Mound Village Board unanimously approved the ordinance amendments that changed “location” to “property owner” and that included the new fee schedule.
During his monthly report to the village board, Elk Mound Police Chief Chad Weinberger continues to point out that the police department could use two additional police officers.
The population in Elk Mound has increased by between 300 and 400 people in the past several years because of the Settlers Ridge apartment development. The population is expected to continuing increasing as more of the development is finished, leaving the police chief with even less time to respond to false alarms.
Dangerous dog
The Elk Mound Village Board also held a public hearing on a “dangerous dog” at the October 21 meeting.
Police Chief Weinberger reported that the dog in question had attacked a neighbor’s dog and showed the village board photographs of a German Shepherd with bite barks near his nose.
The homeowner was the only person who witnessed the attack on his dog, said Terry Stamm, village president.
The dog owner’s name and address were not given during the public hearing.
The dog owner said she did not understand how her dog had attacked another dog.
The dog owner told the village board she has owned her dog for many years and that the dog has never shown aggression toward people or other animals.
Police Chief Weinberger asked the village board to follow the village’s ordinance on dangerous dogs.
The requirements are that the dog be on a leash or be wearing a muzzle; that the homeowner maintain a fence around the property; that the homeowner posts signs about the dog; that the dog be spade or neutered; and that the homeowner carry liability insurance for the dog, the police chief said.
The Elk Mound Village Board denied the appeal for a change in the dangerous dog status and said the dog owner must follow the ordinance.
The dog owner does not have to get rid of her dog, but the owner must follow the ordinance, Stamm said.
Other business
In other business, the Elk Mound Village Board:
• Received an introduction to Paul Mahler, an attorney with Bakke Norman, who will be working with Elk Mound as the village’s attorney.
• Learned during the police chief’s report that a black bear had been spotted in the village on September 4.
• Learned during the police chief’s report that a $10,000 cyber theft suspect was believed to be in Canada and that the case had been forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• Learned during the police chief’s report that the most unusual case was a juvenile who had torn apart a room at the school, placed items in the middle of the room and then had urinated on the items. A few days later, the same juvenile repeated the behavior.
• Took no action on changing Ordinance Section 6-4-5, abatement of tree disease nuisances. Mark Levra, director of public works and one of the village’s foresters, said he had gone out with Police Chief Weinberger, who also is a village forester, and had made a list of 20 properties with nuisance trees. People have started working on their “tree situations,” the police chief said.
• Tabled any discussion or action on amendments to Ordinance Sections 13-1-42 (single family residential district low density) and 13-1-200 (c) (standards for detached accessory buildings/garages; lot area coverage; square footage).
• Approved a motion to continue with fluoridation of the village water supply. The public works and streets committee, which met October 9, recommended continuing with fluoridation. Village resident Tom Gilbert has spoken to the village board several times about fluoride and had given information to the committee for consideration. Fluoride “is not worth the risk,” Gilbert said during the public comments portion of the October 21 meeting.
• Approved a 4.1 percent simplified rate increase for the water utility. The village’s auditor recommended small increases in the water rate every year to avoid a big increase all at once, said Karin Wolf, village clerk-treasurer. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission allows municipalities to do a simplified rate increase, which does not involve the review or the public hearing by the PSC that would be required for a full rate increase.
• Approved a resolution stating the intention to join the Statewide Public Safety Interoperable Communication System.
• Approved a resolution recognizing the efforts of the Elk Mound Police and Fire Departments during a residential fire on Juniper Avenue in September of 2024.
• Took no action on the opening of sealed bids for the sale of an abandoned motor home at 215 University Street. The motor home was advertised for sale by sealed bids in the Eau Claire Leader Telegram, but no bids were received, Police Chief Weinberger said. The motor home can be considered to have zero value since there were no bids, he said. The village will ask the property owner to dispose of the motor home.
• Approved alternate polling locations at Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church, the Elk Mound Community Center and at Elk Mound High School, in that order of availability, The church was chosen as the first alternate site, if it is needed, since the church has a larger parking spot than the parking available at the community center.
• Approved the location of the “fire danger” sign on the southwest corner of the Village Park near the welcome sign.
• Approved a two-year contract with the Dunn County Humane Society. The per capita for 2025 is $2.09, representing an increase of 5 cents over the 2024 per capita, for a total of $2,058.65.
