COUNCIL BRIEFS

Satisfaction result reading methods change

Misinterpreted results of an annual residents satisfaction survey have led to a change in the way it is calculated.

Last year South Waikato District councillors disagreed with the way it was reported.

The results presented to councillors failed to show what percentage were dissatisfied and what percentage ‘‘don’t know’’.

Strategic policy planner Tanya Wood said it was reviewed and a change was proposed to council- lors at Thursday’s corporate and regulatory committee meeting.

‘‘In the future the people who don’t know if they are satisfied or dissatisfied are excluded.’’

Councillors disagree with working dog fee

An idea to create a working dog fee was shunted by councillors.

Owners of working dogs which live in an urban area are currently charged $135.

The fee for rural dogs is $60. There is no definition of a working dog and Cr Jeff Gash said it would cause a debacle to create one.

‘‘You open up a can of worms to allow a work dog fee.’’

The idea could have been worked into the Long Term Plan but no decision was made.

Transport system rolls forward

A $200,000 ratepayer-funded public transport system is well on its way to hitting the road with a tender to be opened.

A public transport steering group has worked on the logistics of the system for several months now.

There will be three circuits around Tokoroa and two to Tirau which will stop in Putaruru.

The tender will go out for a sixmonth trial of the circuits and an information service.

Deputy chief executive Ben Smit said information about all services in the district was needed.

‘‘That’s probably the standout thing, that no- one, even the people who are involved in it intimately, have a comprehension of services out there.’’

The service will be evaluated by the steering group after four months.

Animal control kept busy

Animal control dealt with five loose horses within two months.

The horses were all returned to their owners but group manager of regulatory, Sharon Robinson, said it was a cause for concern.

Three instances of dog attacks were also reported, one was on a child aged two, but no further action was taken as it was chained up and the child was not supervised.

There were nine complaints about dogs being aggressive, mainly about dogs chasing cats.