The Newton City Council has another site to consider for the 8-stall dog kennel that has been purchased for city operated animal control services. Two city owned locations proposed by the Newton Police Department  have already been rejected. The first site at 707 West 9th Street South was not approved by the City Council due to neighborhood complaints about possible noise and zoning challenges. The second proposed location at 3387 Highway F48 West, south of the current dog park and near Westwood Golf Course, was rejected over concerns about aesthetics, proximity to neighbors, and taking up land that could be used for expansion of the golf course parking lot. The new proposed site is city owned and south of the landfill at 3985 West 8th Street South. It’s a former farmstead currently in cropland and grassland. City Administrator Matt Muckler says if this site gets City Council approval, the City may be able to open the new kennel in early December. Parkview Animal Hospital in Newton has agreed to provide non-contractual animal control services to the City at a higher cost than what was in their prior contract, which they terminated October 15th. But when the new year arrives, Newton could be without animal control services. Mayor Evelyn George says that makes finding a kennel site a high priority.

“That’s what has put us on this fast track to move forward, because it’s a short timeline.”

According to Newton Police Captain Chris Wing, the new proposed site is over 1,300 feet away from any residence, and about five miles or approximately a 9 to 10 minute drive one way from the Police Department. The Newton City Council will discuss this site during tonight’s meeting at 6 p.m.