Velva approves police contract despite 2 dissenting commissioners after dog-bite complaint discussion

The Velva City Commission approved a Police Service Contract Agreement in a 3–2 roll-call vote on Aug. 19, 2024, after discussing recent police activity and a dog-bite complaint.

Commission President Mike Schreiner opened the discussion by reviewing police citations and speaking with McHenry County Deputy Dave Dewanz about a dog-bite complaint that led to the dog owner being cited and the animal removed from Velva city limits. "The owner of the dog was cited and the dog was removed from Velva city limits," the commission recorded.

Vice President Dave Keller said he objected to the contract terms because, he alleged, "Velva pays the most out of all the towns in McHenry County." Keller and Commissioner Gene Jenson voted against the contract. Commissioners Schreiner, Mary Liz Davis (Police/Finance Commissioner), and Ben Zietz (Water/Sewer Commissioner) voted in favor; the motion carried.

Davis and Zietz moved to approve the contract; the commission recorded the roll-call result and carried the motion. The commission did not record amendment language or further conditions in the meeting minutes.

The action follows routine enforcement described at the meeting and does not include a detailed, line-by-line accounting of contract costs in the minutes. Commissioners expressed differing views about relative cost burdens among McHenry County towns; the minutes record the objection but do not include an itemized comparison.

The commission did not schedule further public hearings on the contract during the meeting. The commission adjourned at 8:07 p.m.