Council approves K9 program for FMPD

Councilwoman Bowker concerned with lack of sufficient training

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - The Fort Madison Police Department could introduce a new K9 officer to the community before the end of the spring.

At Tuesday's regular City Council meeting, the council approved a request from the Fort Madison Police Department to bring a K9 officer onto the police department.

The cost of the project will be $77,000 and will be reflected in the 2022-23 budget, however Police Chief Mark Rohloff said his diligence on the program indicates that there could be a zero cost factor to the city with donations and sponsorships of the program.

City Councilwoman Rebecca Bowker said she supports a K9 program in the department, but still had concerns with a two-week training period for the officer and the animal and didn't recommend the kennel being used.

She said Iowa State Penitentiary, her employer who has a successful K9 program in place, is not recommending the kennel either. But Rohloff said he's had conversations with several law enforcement groups including Lee County K9 Association in the information gathering process.

The officer/handler will go through training in March with the animal and the K9 could be with the department by April.

"I'm frustrated and concerned that the kennel we're using is only going to give our handler two weeks training. I'm still for the program and support the police department, but the liability exposure here in a two-week training for a K9 handler is problematic for me," Bowker said.

"You have a K9 on the street that's not properly handled and it bites one person, that pretty much bankrupts the city."

Rohloff said the liability would be covered by the city insurer's general policy as are city employees' actions, vehicles, and anything the council does as well.

In other action, the council:
• approved the first reading of an ordinance defining "Tiny Homes" within the city with special use permits and a minimum lot size of 3,500 square feet, lot width of 25 feet and dwelling size no less than 576 square feet.
• awarded construction bids to replace bridges on Avenue F over French Creek and on 27th Street over Dry Creek to Iowa Bridge and Culvert of Washington, Ia., for a combined cost of $2,032,011.
• set a public hearing for Tuesday, Feb. 15 to set the Fiscal Year 2023 Maximum Property Tax Dollars Levy.
• appointed Ron Welder and Lyle Brown to the city's Planning & Zoning Commission with terms expiring March 31, 2025.