(KNZA)--The city of Hiawatha is looking into animal impoundment options. 

Police Chief Mickey Gruber discussed the issue with the Hiawatha City Commission Monday evening.    
Gruber said the Brown County Humane Society was awarded the bid three years ago to provide boarding services for the city, and he recently put it out for bid again but no bids were received by the deadline.  

Gruber said City Administrator Brad Scott reached out to the Humane Society and they presented an option of paying them $1,000 a month for an annual cost of $12,000.  He said that would be a 400 percent increase over the amount budgeted and is not acceptable, so they are looking into other alternatives.    
Over the past three years, Gruber said the city paid around $13,000 for boarding services. 

He said he contacted Horton-based Pawz Grooming and Obedience Training, who expressed an interest in possibly providing the service and planned to reach out to them again this week.  

At the request of commissioners, Scott said he would check with the Humane Society to see if they are willing to adjust their proposed price.  

In other business, the Commission on a 4-1 vote approved a 25-year lease of the old airport 4-bay hanger to Precision Aerial Ag, of Seneca, and authorized the mayor to sign the lease.  Commissioner Brian Shefferd cast the dissenting vote, saying he felt a 25-year lease was too long.  The company will pay the city an annual lease rate of $600.  The company plans to use the hanger facility for chemical storage.

Also, the Commission on a 3-2 vote approved a one year contract with Lucent Health to administer an employee assistance program at a cost of $3,500.  Commissioners Shefferd and Laura Tollefson cast the dissenting votes.