Advertisement Under the new ordinance, which goes into effect after its publication in the La Crosse Tribune, residents living on land zoned for residential use are permitted to keep no more than two dogs older than 5 months on their property. People living on land zoned exclusive agriculture, transitional agriculture or agriculture A or B are permitted up to four dogs older than 5 months.
Under the ordinance, owners with more than four dogs must obtain a kennel/commercial animal operation permit through La Crosse County.
The town board held a public hearing on the dog ordinance prior to its monthly meeting. Linda West, a town resident who has often addressed the board about the rights of dog owners, asked for a grandfather clause that would permit her to retain more than four dogs. Her request was denied.
“If you get a kennel license, commercial (then you can) do what you please,” said board member Joe Schaller. “But if you’re going to have more than four dogs, get a kennel license.”
Included in the four-page ordinance are existing stipulations that dogs need to be licensed and collared. Also, “dangerous or vicious” dogs are not permitted in the town, pet owners need to clean up their animals’ waste and owners could be held responsible for damage committed by their pets.
Plan Commission
Also on Monday, the board appointed two critics of many aspects of the town’s comprehensive plan to sit on the town Plan Commission.
The appointments fill two vacant seats and came on 3-0 votes — board members Jeff Henessee and Howard Kelly had excused absences from the meeting.
One of the appointments filled a community member spot, which had recently been vacated by Dan Anderson. Four town residents — Doug Shefelbine, Francis Brown, Steve Kujak and Dave Balduzzi — wrote letters expressing interest in the seat, and all four were present at Monday’s meeting.
Town Chairman Stan Hauser recommended Shefelbine for the seat, since both he and Anderson are farmers in Halfway Coulee.
“We would be replacing Dan with a person that would probably bring a similar background to the commission,” Hauser said. “Doug has also been quite vocal (at meetings), been watching our planning process for quite a while.”
During discussion, Schaller said he was ready to vote on an appointment, but he thought the entire town board should be present. All three board members at Monday’s meeting would need to vote for the same nominee in order to obtain the majority of the 5-person board. But when a vote was finally taken, Schaller paused for a few moments before saying “Give it to Doug.”
After seating Shefelbine on the commission, the board also needed to appoint a board member to replace Frank Fogel, who previously sat on the plan commission but was not re-elected to his seat in April.
“I want you on it,” Hauser told Schaller. After a brief discussion, Schaller was appointed unanimously to the seat.
Other business
n The board unanimously granted the Red Pines Resort a liquor license, which comes with a one-time fee of $10,000. The resort will join Emma’s Diner, Kwik Trip, MC’s Sports Bar and Your Prairie Store as the only town businesses allowed to sell alcohol.
Advertisement 
