Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell called for a city ordinance requiring pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats at Monday's regular meeting of the Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors.
Citing recent events at the Texarkana Animal Care and Adoption Center, Penney-Bell praised volunteer efforts to make needed repairs at the shelter and announced coming planning sessions at which city officials and the public will discuss continuing the work. Solving the city's unwanted-pet issues will not be possible "until we get at the root problem," she said.
"There needs to be a spay/neuter ordinance with consequences," she said, suggesting a fine for people who fail to spay or neuter their pets. She offered no details regarding the form such an ordinance would take or how the city would enforce it.
Last week, reports that Charles Lokey, the shelter's director, no longer wanted to use the older, downstairs section of the center because of its disrepair sparked online rumors that dozens of animals would be euthanized.
The public and animal rescue organizations responded by adopting many animals, which helped to relieve the shelter's overcrowding. Aloha Aire repaired the air conditioning to make the downstairs section safe for animals housed there.
Other local businesses, including Lowe's Home Improvement, have offered to fix problems such as crumbling concrete block walls, faulty wiring and loose insulation, Penney-Bell said. She thanked the community for its generosity.
"This is something that shows the character of our city," she said. "This is what our city is capable of doing."
Penney-Bell sought to reassure residents that financial donations the city accepts on behalf of the shelter will not be used for any other purpose. Finance Director TyRhonda Henderson told the board that such donations will be deposited in a specified bank account, not the city's general fund, and will only be available to fulfill the shelter's needs.
In other business, directors voted to adopt an ordinance that allows the board to waive competitive bidding and authorize new residential garbage collection contracts with Richardson Waste II Inc. and Edmondson's Trash Service.
The contracts are necessary because Waste Management Inc. will soon stop providing collection services on the Arkansas side. In a June 16 letter, Waste Management told the city it cannot continue residential collection without a rate increase. The board voted against increasing the company's rate by $1.19 per household per month.
Richardson and Edmonson's have indicated they can take on Waste Management's routes without any service interruption or rate increases. The ordinance authorizes City Manager Kenny Haskin to assign Waste Management's routes to the two local companies.
The board also voted to approve the city Parks and Recreation Department's new five-year master plan, "an all-inclusive update" of the last plan that was prepared in 2008, Parks Superintendent Ross Cowling said before the meeting.
It sets out the department's goals and priorities through 2020, which include upgrading playgrounds, training a certified playground safety inspector, expanding programs for children, adding open spaces for team sports practices, improving walking trails and increasing staff.
Cowling said the new plan is necessary for the city to qualify for state Department of Parks and Tourism grants. He expects to hold public meetings to hear residents' input about the plan and revise it as necessary.
One of the master plan's projects is already under way. At its July 21 meeting, the Arkansas-side Advertising and Promotions Commission voted to fund new playground equipment, estimated to cost about $75,000, for Bobby Ferguson Park.
Directors also voted to adopt an ordinance that rezones the property at 522 E. Fourth St. The owners of the property intend to transfer it to St. Edward's Catholic Church and want to match the zoning of the church.
Concerning another matter, Assistant Mayor and Ward 2 Director Laney Harris addressed the board about Union Pacific Railroad trains blocking Pinehurst Street and Seibert Street for extended periods of time. No member of the public spoke.
Trains recently have blocked traffic for hours at a time, and in one case, because of washed-out track in Louisiana, more than a day, Harris said. He said he plans to meet with Union Pacific representatives Wednesday to discuss the issue.
In other business, the board approved a resolution authorizing Haskin to execute a contract for improvements to the compost concrete pad and roads at South Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. J.R. Pope Co. Inc. submitted the low bid of $405,866.15. The Arkansas side's portion of the expense will be $150,373.41.
Directors also heard a first reading of an ordinance that would rezone property in the 400 block of Rondo Road to allow a dog training facility there. If the ordinance is approved, the property will be rezoned as Planned Unit Development. That means the training business must adhere to a specific plan for the property's use and if it ever leaves the property, zoning would revert to Rural Residential.
The board's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 15.
