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Mexico City Council members held a work session at 6 p.m. Monday, prior to the regular session at 7.
The work session was to invite council comment and public comment regarding the proposed animal control ordinance.
The Animal Code Review Committee presented a review of the final draft of the ordinance and members’ recommendation to the city council. A powerpoint presentation was conducted by Sarah Williams, president of the Audrain Humane Society Board, regarding animal care and control.
Mexico Animal Review Board was formed by the council to review the current animal control ordinance. The board consisted of seven members: Mayor Ron Loesch, city of Mexico; Williams, Audrain Humane Society Board; Dr. Kristi Williams, Mexico Animal Shelter Advisory Board; Brandi Myers, Audrain City-County Health Unit; Dr. Richard Schmidtke, veterinarian; Chief Susan Rockett, Public Safety and the late Walter Staley, pit bull owner.
The board met six times during the period from June 2010 to February 2011. Proposed changes in the ordinance are:
• Section 3-1. Additional definitions have been added to help clarify enforcement; and
• Section 3-5. A better explanation of the number or total quantity of (4) common household pets allowed at one residential dwelling to include (4) dogs or (4) cats or a combination thereof over 4 months of age; and
• Section 3-7. Restraint, Tethering or Chaining of Dogs has been added and state would be unlawful for a person to restrain a dog with a chain or tether unless the person is holding the chain or tether. This portion of the ordinance would become effective one year after passage of the ordinance; and
• Section 3-18. Sale of animals has been added and state that it shall be unlawful for any person to sell, trade ... any animal on any parking lot, right-of-way, roadside, flea market, etc. Williams pointed out this addition will prevent selling or giving away unhealthy animals.
• Section 3-20. Dangerous dogs has been revised to include violations that can be enforced to protect the public and the dog.
Penalties for violations are: first offense, $25 minimum, $500 maximum; second offense, $50 minimum, $500 maximum and microchip; third offense, $75 minimum, $500 maximum and microchip and animal must be spayed or neutered; fourth offense, $100 minimum, $500 maximum and microchip and animal must be spayed or neutered; fifth/successive, $150, $500 maximum, minimum and seizure; failure to comply with a written order, $100 minimum, $500 maximum. Violations accumulate per owner, not per animal. No impounded animal may be redeemed until all penalties are paid in full. In addition to fines, the municipal judge may require restitution for damages and/or training for the owner/animal.
Williams emphasized the focus is to promote responsible pet ownership.
The new ordinance was given first reading by title only and will appear on the March 14 meeting agenda.
Regular session began with a presentation by Kevin Lowrance, administrator of the Audrain City-County Health Unit.
Lowrance presented details of ACCHU’s annual report for 2010, the many services ACCHU provides and legal requirements for seeking and utilizing a mil tax to support the public health entity.
The first order of business during regular session was a resolution authorizing Acting City Manager Roger Haynes to sign a Hangar Lease between the city of Mexico and Mike Hildebrand.
A list of people interested in renting airport hangars at the Mexico Memorial Airport-Hagan Brothers Field is maintained in the acting city manager’s office and posted at the Mexico Memorial Airport. Hangar 16 has recently been vacated and Hildebrand is the first contact on the hangar rental list. The lease is for a term of one year automatically renewable at the end of the first year. The hangar rent is $80 per month. Hildebrand currently rents two hangars at the airport. Upon signing the Hangar Lease for No. 16, Hildebrand will relinquish his interest in Hangar No. 9.
Council passed a resolution authorizing the acting city manager to enter into an agreement with the Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant, Inc. to provide tourism activities for the city.
The 2010-2011 annual budget allows $10,000 for use by the Miss Missouri Pageant, Inc. The city has been providing tourism support to the not-for-profit organization for several years.
Council passed a resolution setting the monthly base rate for sanitation services in the amount of $10.16 with a “fuel cost adjusted” rate cap of $10.84 for the 12-month period beginning April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012.
Last year’s base rate for services was $9.92, equating to a rate adjustment under 3 percent between the two 12-month cycles. In addition to a base rate for services, a fuel cost adjustment may be added to and made part of the monthly service cost in accordance to the terms of the contracted residential refuse pick-up services agreement in force.
Council narrowly approved an ordinance revising the 2010-2011 operating budget to fill the need for a full-time Information Technology Specialist and an Administrative Assistant for Economic Development position on a full-time basis by re-budgeting the combined funds shown in the budget for a part-time Information Specialist, part-time Administrative Assis-tant, and TCRC support (a total of $85,000 annual or $21,250 quarterly). It is anticipated re-allocation of these expenditures would more than cover the total cost of these positions in fiscal year 2011 and approximately 82 percent of the total cost of the positions in fiscal year 2012, even at the full-time level.
The 2010-2011 Operating Budget provided funding for a part-time Information Technol-ogy Services position in the amount of $13,000. The 2010-2011 budget also provided $20,000 in funding for a part-time Administrative Assistant within the Department of Economic Development and $52,000 for TCRC support under non-departmental activities. Haynes stated the ITS position would not be filled until July 1 or after.
The University of Missouri will no longer support any of the seven Telecommunications Community Resource Centers located throughout the state and is scheduled to cease no later than Nov. 1, but more likely at the end of the university’s fiscal year June 30. Moberly Area Community College has informed the city of Mexico that MACC will be able to provide TCRC-like services, with program enhancements, through a two-year Broadband Expansion grant recently awarded to them. The annual support provided by the city to TCRC in the amount of $52,000 will cease.
Councilmen Steve Nichols and Chris Williams voted no. Councilmen Dan Botts, Ron Loesch and Michael Myers voted yes.
Williams questioned the necessity of a full-time Information Technologist for the city staff. Haynes cited actual and hypothetical instances to justify the request.
Council members passed an ordinance to annex into the city limits that part of Cunningham Road also known as Audrain County Road 814 from the east right of way of U.S. Business Hwy. 54 also known as Clark Street, extending 1967.68 feet to the point of the city limits at the south side of Cunningham Road.
Mexico City Council members held a work session at 6 p.m. Monday, prior to the regular session at 7.
The work session was to invite council comment and public comment regarding the proposed animal control ordinance.
The Animal Code Review Committee presented a review of the final draft of the ordinance and members’ recommendation to the city council. A powerpoint presentation was conducted by Sarah Williams, president of the Audrain Humane Society Board, regarding animal care and control.
Mexico Animal Review Board was formed by the council to review the current animal control ordinance. The board consisted of seven members: Mayor Ron Loesch, city of Mexico; Williams, Audrain Humane Society Board; Dr. Kristi Williams, Mexico Animal Shelter Advisory Board; Brandi Myers, Audrain City-County Health Unit; Dr. Richard Schmidtke, veterinarian; Chief Susan Rockett, Public Safety and the late Walter Staley, pit bull owner.
The board met six times during the period from June 2010 to February 2011. Proposed changes in the ordinance are:
• Section 3-1. Additional definitions have been added to help clarify enforcement; and
• Section 3-5. A better explanation of the number or total quantity of (4) common household pets allowed at one residential dwelling to include (4) dogs or (4) cats or a combination thereof over 4 months of age; and
• Section 3-7. Restraint, Tethering or Chaining of Dogs has been added and state would be unlawful for a person to restrain a dog with a chain or tether unless the person is holding the chain or tether. This portion of the ordinance would become effective one year after passage of the ordinance; and
• Section 3-18. Sale of animals has been added and state that it shall be unlawful for any person to sell, trade ... any animal on any parking lot, right-of-way, roadside, flea market, etc. Williams pointed out this addition will prevent selling or giving away unhealthy animals.
• Section 3-20. Dangerous dogs has been revised to include violations that can be enforced to protect the public and the dog.
Penalties for violations are: first offense, $25 minimum, $500 maximum; second offense, $50 minimum, $500 maximum and microchip; third offense, $75 minimum, $500 maximum and microchip and animal must be spayed or neutered; fourth offense, $100 minimum, $500 maximum and microchip and animal must be spayed or neutered; fifth/successive, $150, $500 maximum, minimum and seizure; failure to comply with a written order, $100 minimum, $500 maximum. Violations accumulate per owner, not per animal. No impounded animal may be redeemed until all penalties are paid in full. In addition to fines, the municipal judge may require restitution for damages and/or training for the owner/animal.
Williams emphasized the focus is to promote responsible pet ownership.
The new ordinance was given first reading by title only and will appear on the March 14 meeting agenda.
Regular session began with a presentation by Kevin Lowrance, administrator of the Audrain City-County Health Unit.
Lowrance presented details of ACCHU’s annual report for 2010, the many services ACCHU provides and legal requirements for seeking and utilizing a mil tax to support the public health entity.
The first order of business during regular session was a resolution authorizing Acting City Manager Roger Haynes to sign a Hangar Lease between the city of Mexico and Mike Hildebrand.
A list of people interested in renting airport hangars at the Mexico Memorial Airport-Hagan Brothers Field is maintained in the acting city manager’s office and posted at the Mexico Memorial Airport. Hangar 16 has recently been vacated and Hildebrand is the first contact on the hangar rental list. The lease is for a term of one year automatically renewable at the end of the first year. The hangar rent is $80 per month. Hildebrand currently rents two hangars at the airport. Upon signing the Hangar Lease for No. 16, Hildebrand will relinquish his interest in Hangar No. 9.
Council passed a resolution authorizing the acting city manager to enter into an agreement with the Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant, Inc. to provide tourism activities for the city.
The 2010-2011 annual budget allows $10,000 for use by the Miss Missouri Pageant, Inc. The city has been providing tourism support to the not-for-profit organization for several years.
Council passed a resolution setting the monthly base rate for sanitation services in the amount of $10.16 with a “fuel cost adjusted” rate cap of $10.84 for the 12-month period beginning April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012.
Last year’s base rate for services was $9.92, equating to a rate adjustment under 3 percent between the two 12-month cycles. In addition to a base rate for services, a fuel cost adjustment may be added to and made part of the monthly service cost in accordance to the terms of the contracted residential refuse pick-up services agreement in force.
Council narrowly approved an ordinance revising the 2010-2011 operating budget to fill the need for a full-time Information Technology Specialist and an Administrative Assistant for Economic Development position on a full-time basis by re-budgeting the combined funds shown in the budget for a part-time Information Specialist, part-time Administrative Assis-tant, and TCRC support (a total of $85,000 annual or $21,250 quarterly). It is anticipated re-allocation of these expenditures would more than cover the total cost of these positions in fiscal year 2011 and approximately 82 percent of the total cost of the positions in fiscal year 2012, even at the full-time level.
The 2010-2011 Operating Budget provided funding for a part-time Information Technol-ogy Services position in the amount of $13,000. The 2010-2011 budget also provided $20,000 in funding for a part-time Administrative Assistant within the Department of Economic Development and $52,000 for TCRC support under non-departmental activities. Haynes stated the ITS position would not be filled until July 1 or after.
The University of Missouri will no longer support any of the seven Telecommunications Community Resource Centers located throughout the state and is scheduled to cease no later than Nov. 1, but more likely at the end of the university’s fiscal year June 30. Moberly Area Community College has informed the city of Mexico that MACC will be able to provide TCRC-like services, with program enhancements, through a two-year Broadband Expansion grant recently awarded to them. The annual support provided by the city to TCRC in the amount of $52,000 will cease.
Councilmen Steve Nichols and Chris Williams voted no. Councilmen Dan Botts, Ron Loesch and Michael Myers voted yes.
Williams questioned the necessity of a full-time Information Technologist for the city staff. Haynes cited actual and hypothetical instances to justify the request.
Council members passed an ordinance to annex into the city limits that part of Cunningham Road also known as Audrain County Road 814 from the east right of way of U.S. Business Hwy. 54 also known as Clark Street, extending 1967.68 feet to the point of the city limits at the south side of Cunningham Road.
