The status of the Oleson Park Zoo was the center of attention at the City Council Meeting. The Council chambers in Fort Dodge City Hall was packed to capacity to the point where many people were standing. The biggest topic on the beloved zoo was whether to remove the exotic animals from the place because of an unstable environment & facilities surrounding the animals. 

The one big topic led to many other smaller but still very important topics regarding the Oleson park Zoo. As the crowd got emotional during the conversation, Jim Kramer from the Zoo put alot of the problems in perspective. Kramer said the zoo needs more volunteers as they are currently under staffed as it is. Animal Activist Amy Von Bank brought fortworth a petition to remove the exotic animals from the zoo in fears that they would die in an unstable environment. She said she had over a 600 signatures in support on that movement.

Fort Dodge Residents were very vocal in support of not having any exotic animals and talking about how important it is to have the city pay for some improvements on the zoo. Lifelong Fort Dodge Resident Jerry Patterson who is well revered in this town added that Oleson Park Zoo is not only just a zoo, but a great asset for the community in helping our youth learn many great things about nature we can absorb for the rest of our lives.

After hearing from many parties, Mayor Matt Bemrich concluded that the original contract from 2008 would have to be re-evaluated and the council would have to visit the zoo to furthur the process down the road. The Mayor added it was on his agenda and they would revisit this important topic in the near future.