Goessel council amends loose-dogs ordinance

The Goessel City Council, during its July 21 meeting, addressed dogs ?running at-large? within the city.
The council had received reports of dogs coming into town from the surrounding area. Resi?dents had sometimes felt threatened by the dogs. Some dogs have come into town numerous times.

As a result, the council amended two sections of the city code pertaining to fines and penalties for dogs running at-large. This would include dogs owned by city residents, as well as dogs owned by people who live outside the city limits.
Dogs running at-large can be impounded, and the owner would be responsible to pay all costs associated with the impoundment.

But, as an alternative to impoundment, the new ordinance states that the animal control officer may issue a notice to the owner of the dog that the dog is in violation of city code.
?The notice may be delivered in person to the owner or mailed by certified mail to the owner, and the notice shall impose a fine upon the dog owner of $10, to be paid to the city, in person or by mail within seven days of the time the notice is served. The fine will increase by $30 for each additional violation that occurs within six months after the first notice is served,? the ordinance stated.

The ordinance further states the dog owner will not be required to appear in court if the fine is voluntarily paid within seven days. Failure to pay would require a court hearing.
KDOT proposal

The council listened to Joe Palic, representing the Kansas Depart?ment of Transportation in Marion, discuss Kansas Highway 215, the section of state highway that connects Kansas Highway 15 to the city of Goessel.

Because it is a state highway, the state maintains that section of road. But the state does not want to maintain that section anymore, and is offering the city a one-time payment of $100,000 to take ownership of that portion of highway.

Council member Dean Snelling said $100,000 would not ?go very far? for upkeep, considering that it could cost as much as $200,000 each time it needs repaving.
It was noted that the state is trying to get rid of connecting links all over the state so state employees do not have to take care of those sections of road and to save money. Those connecting links would then become an expense for cities, and the cities would have to fix them and provide snow removal.

Mayor Dave Schrag said some cities are accepting those connecting links and some are not.
City attorney Marilyn Wilder had asked if the city would receive any tax benefit by owning that portion of highway but found out there would be none.

By consensus, the council decided to table the issue until another meeting.
Other business

In other business, the council:
n accepted the resignation of Paula Flaming as court clerk and city building custodian. Flaming had been the court clerk for nearly 10 years.

Schrag expressed appreciation for the job Flaming did as court clerk, deputy city clerk and city building custodian. Schrag also expressed appreciation for the work Flaming did in training Jennifer Whitehead, the new city clerk.
n accepted the resignation of police officer Seth Loucks. Schrag expressed appreciation for his work. Loucks?s duties will be covered by other officers in the department.
n spent more than an hour in executive session discussing personnel positions with no action taken in public session.
n discussed the Thresh?ing Days parade. Council members and city employees plan to ride in the parade.
n heard a caution from Councilor Jim Wiens about the parade. He said parade entrants who throw candy should be sure to throw it far enough so it is off the street. He said he is concerned about the safety of children who might run onto the street to retrieve candy.
n set the date of the fall city-wide garage sale for Sept. 27.
n heard maintenance personnel continue to spray for mosquitoes.
n heard the swing set for the city park is ready to be picked up in Broken Arrow, Okla.

n voted to purchase a Versa Probe water meter reader for a cost of $4,524 after hearing from Public Works Director Karen Dalke that the old meter reader is obsolete and cannot be fixed.

In addition, Whitehead said the software for the reader is not supported anymore.
The purchase includes two gadgets: one to read the meters and one to record the readings. The new reader will have the capability to store the readings.

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