Hold time extended for dogs

City officials took the first step in providing more time to find owners of stray dogs with the first reading of an ordinance Tuesday night.

The ordinance which would amend the current ordinance is designed to align with the current contract the city has with Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic for holding dogs picked up by city personnel.

Previously, the city ordinance set a three-day limit from the time a dog was picked up by police until it could be adopted or euthanized. The new ordinance establishes the city wait five days from the time a dog is impounded until it is adoptable if the owner is not found. It also allows an additional five days from then, for a total of 10 days, before the dog may be euthanized if the owner is not found or adopted.

Fees incurred by boarding and or treating the dog are the responsibility of the owner. If, when the owner claims the dog, the fees are not reimbursed, a must appear citation may be issued to the dog owner. Previously, the fees had to be paid prior to picking up the dog.

Adoption fees were set at $50, but there was an exclusion provided for fees for rescue organizations, charitable organizations or special adoption events.

City officials debated the amount of the fee with Police Chief Ryan Walker telling council members that it costs the city about $85 to house a dog.

The ordinance establishes city dog license to be valid from April 1 to March 31 of every year. The previous ordinance, according to Mayor Jackie Crabtree, provided for dog licenses to be valid one year from time of purchase, although, in practice, he said, the tags were always due in April. It also provides for a penalty of $10 if a license is not "timely renewed."

If a dog which has bitten a person has proof of current rabies vaccination, it may be quarantined at home, according to the proposed ordinance amendment. Previously, all dogs were to be quarantined in an appropriate facility.

The second reading of the ordinance will be at the December Council meeting. An ordinance must be approved on three readings to be adopted.

The council meeting opened with a public hearing for the city to place liens on two pieces of property cleaned up by the city.

With no one objecting to the recommended liens, council members approved the liens on property owned by Matthew Bedwell and Christopher Morrison. Bedwell owes the city $615.10 and $200 and Morrison owes $598.47. On each piece of property, the mowing and trimming was $120-$140 with additional administrative costs of $50 for the code enforcement officer, postage fees, recording fees for the lien and attorney's fees of $400.

On one of the properties, located in Givens subdivision, Nathan See, Street Department head, said: "It was over growing the sidewalk. It had gotten so tall, kids were walking through it."

In other business, council members:

• Approved Resolution 378 amending the Police Department policy manual.

• Approved Ordinance 570 providing for keeping bees in the city limits.

• Approved end-of-year merit raises for all city employees -- 31 total, 27 full-time to receive $ and four part-time to receive $ .

• Approved paying City Council and Planning Commission members $125 and $100 respectively per meeting attended for 2015.

• Approved authorizing the Library Board to advertise for bids for the library multi-purpose room.

• Heard a presentation from Jeff Hatley, public information officer with Ozark Regional Transit.

Community on 11/25/2015