Web posted
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
City tables pet law
By JAMES JORDAN
Traveler Editor
news@arkcity.net
Dogs and cats may have to be licensed in Arkansas City, but not just yet. City commissioners tabled an ordinance that would have required pet licenses at their meeting Tuesday.
Mayor Mell Kuhn said the city could do a three-year license because some vaccines are not required each year. City officials suggest pet owners get the licenses when they have their animals vaccinated.
He said he had received information that animals do not have to have a rabies vaccine every year, so he wanted to look into the time period for the licenses.
Commissioner Dotty Smith said veterinarians had told her that they prefer yearly vaccinations for pets.
City Manager Steve Archer noted that current city ordinances require a yearly vaccination.
The city will gather information from local veterinarians on the vaccinations. The city issues are separate as vaccination requirements are included in a different ordinance. They would only be connected if pet owners are allowed to get their animal licenses at the time of vaccinations.
The license would cost $5 per year for spayed animals and $10 for non-spayed.
City officials say the license is not a money maker. The fee would only cover the cost of running the program.
Officials want the license as a way of keeping track of animals, to insure animals are vaccinated and to help enforced the three-animal city limit that.
Winfield has such a license and has had it for several years. According to the City of Winfield's Web site, cost for a license for neutered animals is $5. In 2008, the cost for non-neutered dogs and cats is $15 and is to go up to $20 in 2009.
Commissioners discussed or acted upon the following matters:
* Received a check for $4,400 from the City of Winfield for reimbursement for wind-storm clean-up last June. The storm caused over $500,000 in damage to Winfield. Arkansas City provided equipment and manpower to help with the cleanup.
* Awarded a contract to Wells Construction for paving work done on the Chestnut Street underpass. The bid was for $59,633, which was below the engineer's estimate, Archer said. He added that the work would help with drainage problems that sometimes flood the street at the underpass.
* Passed minor changes to contractor licensing rules. Building, Planning and Codes Director Matt Rowland said the changes were "just housekeeping." The new ordinance changes the word "business" to "contractor" to clarify that the license is not a business license. It also clarifies what a "limited" license is. "It does not change how to get a license, or any costs," Rowland said.
* Approved a 10-year franchise agreement with Westar to provide electricity to Arkansas City. Wester will pay five percent of its gross receipts to Arkansas City for the right to provide electricity. Ark City will realize approximately $500,000 per year due to this agreement.
* Passed ordinances levying assessments for code enforcement activities such as weed mowing, junk vehicles, debris removal, property maintenance violations and demolitions. This ordinance is passed each quarter as needed to collect reimbursement for city labor.
* There were 45 cases of noxious-weed abatement totaling $9,500.
* There were 14 cases of property maintenance violations totaling $1,380.
* There were 14 cases of debris removal totaling $2,730.
* There was one fine for a junked vehicle for $100.
* There were three cases of property demolition totaling $11,700.
|
