Canine concerns on the rise, prompt actions in Hickman

by Barbara Atwill
HICKMAN OFFICIALS ADDRESS CANINE CONCERNS HICKMAN OFFICIALS ADDRESS CANINE CONCERNS

Dog concerns and sidewalk maintenance were the top items of discussion during the Oct. 26 Hickman City Commission with Commissioners John Wiley Gannon, Robert Griggs, Rob Hitesman, Judy Powell and Mayor Heath Carlton attending.

Lengthy discussion on dog issues and Ordinance 08-05 was heard by the Commissioners.

Mayor Carlton said, “Recently we have had a lot of issues with dogs across town. Moving forward, what ideas do the Commissioners have to get a handle on the dog issues in town. Hickman Chief of Police Tony Grogan and put in quite a few manhours answering calls. I don’t know if it is a situation where we can start enforcing the Ordinance a little bit closer or what we need to do.”

City Manager David Gallagher stated, “With the Pit Bull and Rottweiler fights, you are going to enforce the insurance portion of the Ordinance. That would put the responsibility on the owners to present a certificate of insurance. There is a concentration in West Hickman and in East Hickman.”

Grogan stated, “Most are in West Hickman. We have caught a few dogs on Bond Hill. There were two pit bull dogs in the pound. I have never looked for dogs the way I have the past week and a half.”

“A trap was placed in my yard and one dog was caught, but no one claimed it. It stayed in the pound for a few days and someone broke into the pound and took the pit bull. We can’t prove who dog it was or who took it,” Griggs said.

If the owner of a dog comes to claim a dog at the pound a citation is issued and the cost is recouped by the City.

“We can’t dart a dog, because it takes about 20 minutes for the sedative to take effect. By then the dog could be in the woods or somewhere else where we can’t find it,” Grogan said.

“If someone has a vicious dog, pit bulls, and mixed vicious dogs. Can the Police ask for the certificate?” Griggs asked.

City Attorney Leeanna Wilkerson said, “It is an a misdemeanor if you violate any portion of the Ordinance, which is laid out in the Ordinance, used all over the country for these specific breeds of dogs. Some places did away with breed specific Ordinances, because not every pit bull is vicious and not every lab is friendly. The ones that are the real problems are the ones we need to address.”

Carlton said the City needs to move toward lowering the population of the dogs if possible, but didn’t know how. He asked if they should shorten the time of holding before euthanizing them.

Wilkerson stated the Ordinances in place, gives the City all the tools that they can have, other than catching the animals. She also suggested animal control bring a list, and description to City Hall, of dogs that are taken. The Ordinance references this and residents should be able to see if their dog is at the pound.

The list would also help to know if a specific dog has been picked up more than once.

Gallagher stated the issue now is the Pit Bull and Rottweiler killing other animals and it needs to be addressed. The owners need to show proof of insurance, or it can not stay in the city limits, he said.

Carlton said he appreciates help from the community on keeping their dogs up and not running wild. Griggs requested for the community to report vicious dogs.

Commissioners also discussed a possible Ordinance for sidewalk/right-of-way maintenance.

Carlton said, “The past couple of months the seasonal crew has been working really hard cleaning up the sidewalks and edging them, and we commend them for their work. The City however can’t maintain every sidewalk in front of every house. If you own a piece of property that has a sidewalk, I would think the residents would take pride and keep it up by trimming. Some areas are not as well kept. Property owners own property to the middle of the road. There is a right-of-way, and you should maintain your property. We need an Ordinance to maintain what we have worked at getting back in order.”

City Attorney Wilkerson suggested an Ordinance for the owner to keep the sidewalks in good repair and free of mud, dirt, snow, ice, weeds, or other obstructions.

Commissioner Gannon said, “There have been sidewalks in the past in need of repair and because it is not the City’s responsibility, those sidewalks no longer exist. I can’t see forcing the property owner to make repairs to the sidewalks. What if someone slips on a sidewalk, who is responsible?”

Wilkerson said she will work on an Ordinance with preventive maintenance of mud, dirt, snow, ice weeks, trees, and overgrowth and present to the Commissioners.

It was discussed that if the City has to tear up a sidewalk for repairs, they will be responsible for the repairs.

Commissioners discussed appointments that need to be made on the Tourism Commission to replace some positions.

Carlton agreed to contact the current members to see if they have ideas on what direction to go. He said he was not surewhat ideas could be held at this time, because of COVID-19.

Griggs reported the Chamber of Commerce is interested in helping out with the Christmas Parade if it is held this year.

Commissioners voted to close out the Water Line of Credit at The Citizens Bank; and approved a KLC (Kentucky League of Cities) adjustment on Workman’s Comp for 2019-2020 in the amount of $11,413.77.

The Commission then discussed an AT&T Invoice from April 7.

Carrie Schmidt, City Hall employee, stated, “AT&T says we owe this bill, but it hasn’t been working for quit some time before April 7, and Grace Sarsfield, City Treasurer, can’t seem to get to the bottom of it.”

Wilkerson said, “Grace sent me emails, but from my understanding, there is no dispute on the bill because the phone was taken out or quite working. I may be wrong. There is no way we can go back and prove or say with certainty we don’t owe because we had no service from this date forward.”

Carlton read notes between Sarsfield and AT&T from April 29, indicating someone had contacted Willie Caton, Alliance Water Resources, and was advised the circuit had been disconnected for some time and they have no record of the number, and AT&T can’t dispatch someone to come out and locate or work on it.

Wilkerson said she will get with Sarsfield, investigate further and will write a letter to AT&T to try to get it resolved.

Executive Order 2020-881 was also discussed with the Governor’s Approval to resume disconnections starting Nov. 6.

City residents will have until Nov. 6 to set up payments for unpaid balances, and keep their bill current. If they don’t keep it current, and get delayed, then the whole balance is due in full, for residents that have not been paying their bills. They must come in and get current, and cut-off date will be Nov. 23, Gallagher said

City Manager Gallagher reported, “I received a phone call from a company that comes in and finds water loss for you to be repaired. I will meet with them next week. This is something we should take a serious look at before it becomes more serious.”

“The clean-up is looking nice and dilapidated houses will begin receiving notices,” Gallagher said.

Carlton said, “On a positive note, David Gallagher attended a meeting at Columbus-Belmont State Park for a luncheon with Hilda Legg, Kentucky State Director with USDA Rural Development. Gallagher received an award where USDA Rural Development invested $238,000 on our sewer project for the aging and failing.”

Gallagher thanked Legg, the USDA, and Congressman James Comer for the work they have done to help small towns.

Commissioner Gannon stated he had been approached about installing stop signs at the corner of Ivey and Fifth Street and Ivey and Sixth Street.

Carlton stated he was not opposed to placing stop signs if it increases the safety of the residents.

Gallagher asked if anyone has ideas for approvals or objections for stop signs at Ivey and Fifth or Ivey and Sixth to contact him at City Hall.