The city’s contract with Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic is unsigned two weeks after City Council members approved it.
The previous contract expires Aug. 16. During the council meeting Tuesday, July 16, Howard Slinkard, city attorney expressedconcern about a paragraph in the contract protecting the clinic from liability.
“You can’t lend your torte immunity to anyone,” Slinkard told council members. Slinkard admitted he wrote the contract and added the paragraph in question many years ago. He said the paragraph needed to be removed.
Dr. Gary France, owner of Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic, declined to sign the contract without theparagraph when it was presented to him the following week. A meeting with France, Slinkard and Mayor Jackie Crabtree is scheduled to discuss the options, Crabtree said Monday.
During the Council meeting, just prior to considering the city’s contract with the Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic, Nadine Telgemeier, council member, asked fellow council members to consider a one-year instead of a twoyear contract, saying there would be an alternative place to place stray dogs within a year.
The city has contracted with Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic since 1977 to house animals (mostly dogs) picked up by the police.
“In my tenure here, Pea Ridge Vet Clinic has helped us out with many animals - including goats and horses - over the years,” Police Chief Tim Ledbetter said.
Telgemeier invited Evie Comfort to address the Council. She was not on the agenda. Telgemeier asked city o◊cials to consider Comfort’s services next year.
“I would like to do this as a one-year … because we will probably have another option by this time next year. It will be worth looking at. It will be the same services at less expense. A no-kill shelter possibly would be opening … same services at less cost to the taxpayer,” Telgemeier said.
Comfort told city o◊- cials she has another year of school at Northwest Arkansas Community College before she can open ashelter but that she would like to pull the “adoptable ones” and transport them out of state. She said there are many animals in Arkansas so they are shipped to Colorado.
After discussion, which included city clerk Sandy Button telling Telgemeier the contract was already written, Mayor Jackie Crabtree spoke in favor of approving the current contract. With one “nay” vote, council members approved authorizing city o◊cials to sign the current two-year contract, with Dr.
Gary France at Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic. Council member Telgemeier voted against it.
In other business, council members approved the purchase of a Chevrolet Malibu for the city for $20,000.
City Clerk Sandy Button told the council that$29,000 had been spent in the last three years for mileage reimbursements.
“Through the State Purchasing Program, we can buy a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu for $20,463,” Button told the Counicl. In addition, it was approved that the Street Department buy the 2008 Chevrolet 1500 from the City for $10,000 and the city replace that vehicle through the State Purchasing Program with a 2013 Chevrolet 1500 for $20,167 for the building o◊cial. The recommendations were unanimously approved.
In other business, council members:
◊Authorized the mayor and city clerk to advertise for bids for property insurance.-
News, Pages 1 on 07/31/2013