The Mexico City Council discussed the formation of a committee that could change the city’s animal control ordinance at its meeting Monday night.
In a press release Thursday, published below, City Manager Todd Thompson said the committee will look at laws concerning the keeping of a dangerous animal. The committee was created after the city received several reports of incidents involving dangerous dogs.
Thompson said the committee would need 3-4 months to research existing state laws and come up with recommendations.
“It will take some time to do their work, but you want them to look at the whole matter in a comprehensive way,” he said.
The council also unanimously approved a request by the Department of Public Safety to purchase new computers from a local vendor instead of through state-bid contracts. The new computers will have more memory and hard drive space.
“We desperately need them,” Rockett said. “The things we do every day tax them [the computers] quite a bit.”
The MPS allows the department $6,500 to purchase new computers. Director Susan Rockett told the council members Mexico company Innovative Technology Servic-es had put in a bid for seven computers for $762 each or $5,334 total. Rockett said a state-bid contract could have cost the department as much as $6,368.
Thompson said the difference between Innovative’s bid and the state bid were likely due to the fast pace of price changes in the computer industry. The state’s bidding process takes several months to complete.
Council members also unanimously passed an ordinance discussed May 10 to prohibit parking on streets near Eugene Field Elementary School and Mexico Middle School. Parking is now prohibited along the east side of West Street from Boulevard to a point 620 feet south of Boulevard and along the west side of Morris Street from Boulevard to a point 635 feet south of Boulevard.
Thompson said there have been fewer cars parked in the area since the school district instructed teachers not to park there.
“It has helped that the school district has told teachers not to park there,” he said.
The council also unanimously approved an Additional Use Permit for 1009 Ringo Street. Mexico resident Stacy Shramek applied for the permit to start a day care in her home.
Community Development Director Rita Jackson said the city had mailed 24 notices to Shramek’s neighbors before a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on May 4. She said the city received three comments, two of them negative.
One complained that a day care is already in operation at 1010 Ringo St., across from Shramek’s house and another complained of trash in the yard of 1009 Ringo St. The city found that the day care at 1010 Ringo is run by a senior citizen caring for family members’ children. With regard to the second complaint, Jackson had noted that a Code Enforcement Officer had inspected Shramek’s property and found no violations except toys in her yard. The zoning commission had also unanimously approved the request.
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The Mexico City Council discussed the formation of a committee that could change the city’s animal control ordinance at its meeting Monday night.
In a press release Thursday, published below, City Manager Todd Thompson said the committee will look at laws concerning the keeping of a dangerous animal. The committee was created after the city received several reports of incidents involving dangerous dogs.
Thompson said the committee would need 3-4 months to research existing state laws and come up with recommendations.
“It will take some time to do their work, but you want them to look at the whole matter in a comprehensive way,” he said.
The council also unanimously approved a request by the Department of Public Safety to purchase new computers from a local vendor instead of through state-bid contracts. The new computers will have more memory and hard drive space.
“We desperately need them,” Rockett said. “The things we do every day tax them [the computers] quite a bit.”
The MPS allows the department $6,500 to purchase new computers. Director Susan Rockett told the council members Mexico company Innovative Technology Servic-es had put in a bid for seven computers for $762 each or $5,334 total. Rockett said a state-bid contract could have cost the department as much as $6,368.
Thompson said the difference between Innovative’s bid and the state bid were likely due to the fast pace of price changes in the computer industry. The state’s bidding process takes several months to complete.
Council members also unanimously passed an ordinance discussed May 10 to prohibit parking on streets near Eugene Field Elementary School and Mexico Middle School. Parking is now prohibited along the east side of West Street from Boulevard to a point 620 feet south of Boulevard and along the west side of Morris Street from Boulevard to a point 635 feet south of Boulevard.
Thompson said there have been fewer cars parked in the area since the school district instructed teachers not to park there.
“It has helped that the school district has told teachers not to park there,” he said.
The council also unanimously approved an Additional Use Permit for 1009 Ringo Street. Mexico resident Stacy Shramek applied for the permit to start a day care in her home.
Community Development Director Rita Jackson said the city had mailed 24 notices to Shramek’s neighbors before a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on May 4. She said the city received three comments, two of them negative.
One complained that a day care is already in operation at 1010 Ringo St., across from Shramek’s house and another complained of trash in the yard of 1009 Ringo St. The city found that the day care at 1010 Ringo is run by a senior citizen caring for family members’ children. With regard to the second complaint, Jackson had noted that a Code Enforcement Officer had inspected Shramek’s property and found no violations except toys in her yard. The zoning commission had also unanimously approved the request.
City committee to review animal control ordinance
A newly formed ad-hoc committee will be charged with review of Mexico’s animal control ordinance. The committee will meet over the next several months to review the code and make recommendations to City Council on possible changes. Changes to the code will only take effect after being approved by the City Council at a public meeting.
The committee will be made up of representatives from the Animal Control Advisory Committee, Hu-mane Society, Audrain City-County Health Unit, a member of the city council, the Chief of Public Safety, a veterinarian, and a dog owner. Members of the public will have the opportunity to provide input during the review process and before the city council when changes are considered. City Manager Todd Thompson stated “this will be a good opportunity to review our animal code and ensure it is up to date and represents the community’s interest in responsible ownership of animals while protecting the rights of individuals.”
The animal control ordinance addresses the protection and care of animals, dangerous animals, kennel permits, as well as licensing and immunization requirements. It is anticipated that the group will complete their report and make recommendations to the city council by mid-summer. Meeting dates and progress reports will be posted on the city’s web page at www.mexicomissouri.net.
