Wellsville hires new dogcatcher, approves building playground

By Angel Larsen

Noveber 18, 2005 | WELLSVILLE -- A shaggy red dog and a small white poodle running down the sidewalk sniffing and marking random trees has been a common sight for Wellsville residents lately. Starting Thursday, Nov. 17, Kirt Lindley will try to keep loose dogs off the streets.

The City Council approved Lindley, a Hyrum resident, as Wellsville's new part-time animal control officer. Lindley will deal with small and large animals including raccoons, skunks, and horses but not cats.

"There is a problem in Wellsville [with dogs]," Lindley said. "There is no way to keep control of the dogs unless you patrol."

The council approved Lindley to work no more than 40 hours a month at $13 per hour and to receive 36 cents per mile for gas. Lindley will be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to pick up dogs running at large.

Council concerns were contacting Lindley and records of what he spends his time doing. Lindley said his cell phone was the easiest way to contact him. He said with his time sheets he puts a little summary of what he did during those hours.

"If we wanted to know or need to know [how Lindley spends his time] we can get it," Councilman Richard Wells said.

City Manager Don Hartle was not concerned with Lindley reporting how he spends his time. He said, "If a guy is out doing his job on dogs you can tell."

Lindley will be officially sworn in Nov. 21.

Lindley is currently a part-time animal control officer for Hyrum as well. He said all that needs to be done to inform Hyrum is write a letter to the mayor. He has already talked to council members and they said it is fine if Lindley works part-time for Wellsville.

With the new animal control officer, the council discussed changing the city ordinance regarding prices and days a dog will be kept before being euthanized. Each council member was asked to read the ordinance and come to the next meeting with ideas.

Besides a new animal control officer, Wellsville is getting a new playground next year. The council approved purchasing a playground with a swing set from GameTime for about $20,000.

"It is a Wellsville company and we're supporting that," Wells said. "The company stability appealed to us to rely on."

The council had been given proposals from two companies and chose GameTime. The final playground chosen was a combination of two designs the council recreation committee liked. "I would like a master plan but I would support what is approved here," Councilman Ron Case said.

Wells said the playground would not be constructed until next spring and during the winter a master plan could be devised to include the new playground.

The council granted Geoff Cox a business license for video duplication and marketing "America the Beautiful" out of his home at 302 North Redslide Drive.

Brent Greer was also granted a business license for a retail store and office for his company, White Buffalo Outdoor Products, at 39 East Main St. Greer designs and manufactures camouflage apparel and other outdoor equipment like daypacks. He has other facilities in Taiwan and Sri Lanka but most of his products are shipped from Sri Lanka. The council was worried about his retail store hours as well as semi trucks blocking the street. Greer said his hours would only be when he is in town and he will receive only one or two semi truckloads of products per year.

The council also approved the 2005 audit of its budget and affairs. Concerns for the year were problems of the Justice Court findings not being filed by the tenth of every month as well as overspending on capital projects fund. The audit was as of June 30.

"Let the minutes say that [the council] appreciates Don and Lisa's work [on the audit]," Mayor Ruth P. Maughn said.

City Council approved the official canvass of the general elections on Nov. 10. A total of 681 ballots were issued with 1,995 votes. In the primary election only 15.7 percent of registered voters voted while 31 percent voted in the general election.

The council tabled the CCR and the developer's agreement for the Heritage Southwest Estates subdivision until discrepancies could be fixed in the two documents.

When the council discussed the Highway 89/91 South Corridor access study, mixed feelings were expressed.

"In the last five years Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has been very considerate in working with the cities," Hartle said. "In my opinion there is a benefit to show we are cooperating with [UDOT]."

"I'm opposed to giving up control," Case said. "Advantage to this is for Logan."

"Is that what's in our general plan?" Hartle said and the council nodded yes. "Then what do I have against it?"

"It ruins our commercial district," Councilman Lynn P. Cooper said. "They're limiting our possible commercial area by telling how to get on and off the road."

Maughn told the council members if they disliked the study and did not want to agree with it then they need to an Open House meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, to voice their opinions.

The council also discussed allowing possible variations on the city's code requiring 3 acre-feet of water per acre when subdividing property, the Health Caregiver Dwelling Unit (HCDU) ordinance and writing a State of the City newsletter to be sent to January 2006.

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