The city meeting was not real interesting last night. They put off the dog ordinance as expected.
There will be no dog license. They can accomplish the same thing by requiring that animals wear their rabies vaccination tags. Its easy enough to contact the veterinarian who issued the tag and track down the dog or cat's owner that way.
But they are adding some teeth to their animal ordinance.
If your dog bites someone your fine will be much higher, and on second offense the animal might be euthanized.
Ive always heard that a dog gets one bite. I think in most cities a repeat offender biting dog would be put down.
They are also going to try to close the loophole for pit bull owners.
It does depend on how dogs are raised, but only one or two bad ones in the city spoils it for everyone else.
At one time German Shepherds had a really bad reputation. Now not so much.
People do need to keep their animals up and secured. Citizens should have the right to walk the streets without fear of being attacked by a dog.
If everyone took care of their animals responsibly, there would not be a problem.
But everyone wont, so ... that's why you have laws.
They also talked about a new employee handbook they have crafted.
It will streamline the operation for employees. There's a good side and a bad side to that.
It does streamline things so that everyone is treated equally. It addresses many issues.
It does take things out of the hands of department heads somewhat.
One philosophical issue I have is that I do no believe all workers should be treated equally.
Those that do a great job should be treated better than those that do a lousy job.
It is really bad for morale if a person does a great job and gets no better treatment than a person who does not work as hard.
The rest was just stuff we talked about yesterday.
Though there were some good neighbor awards given out. This is a good thing. Maybe the city should do more to recognize the efforts of volunteers and those that are involved in the community.
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I do have to agree, and disagree, with you about employees. Yes, all employees need to be treated fairly, but not compensated fairly. A good worker should be compensated better that a slacker. It is a moral-killer is a worker who works his butt off is given the same compensation as a person who allows others to pick up their slack. But, they do need to treated the same.
Well, what I see going on now is a good worker is not only "not getting paid better" but is in fact being dismissed from the City. In that instance, no consideration was given for past OR current performance. I think consideration was given for who costs the least.
That is not an issue of equal. It is an issue of fair. Much like the insurance discussion on Politics 101, perhaps the new wave with the city is to dump the aging employees before they can qualify for full retirement and replace them with newer employees at a lower salary.
Is that in the new handbook?
Charles, I agree that the person being cut from the city, (Senior Center) is unfair based on her work record and obvious popularity to those around her that she serves.
I think the city should have at least found another position for her to share her talents in some capacity. It's unfortunate in these times of economic uncertainty that someone with her background is just pushed aside because the city felt the need to consolidate the two positions.
I think we will see much more of this in the coming months as we are facing a very bleak time with our nation's economy, both public and in the private sector.
If they are looking for redundant job duties, they might look at the city manager, and city administrator positions. Didn't the paper say at one time that they share many of the same duties? Could be wrong, but would be another $50k (or more) of overhead they could get rid of, especially if the do a lot of the same things.
I'm suprised, but have to agree with the city on the cat and dog ordinance. No need to create more laws or licensing requirements. They just need to be stricter on the ones they already have.
Also, glad to see some Good Neighbor awards going out. Good deeds deserve a pat on the back.
charles said: Didn't take long for the new employee hand book. Position cut at Seniors Center, as budget savings, but yet we still allow city departments to charge trinkets and treats at WalMart. Last bills, included gift cards for employee appreciation. Did one go to the out going Senior Center employee? Yes I've been told it's minor amounts,and to get over it, but some still just don't get it. It adds up and prioritys seem to be out of sync. Could really save money if we cut down on the out of town junkets by department heads.
Well drug dealing is not in the handbooks either? Is that problem?
Should children of commissioners be exempt from the laws?
Be bailed out because the police are picking on them, even when they are know drug dealers?
Maybe we should all turn the other cheek, so we can be slapped equally.
Well ask some of the former commissioners about that. Maybe they can answer it for you
Hey I have a dead horse that needs beating: What is up with this idea? Sounds like it is feasiable, but not much comment from the School Board. Here it is again:
""Technology has bypassed the capacity of schools to respond with
fact," said Arkansas City Public Schools Superintendent Ron Ballard."
Dear Ron Ballard & USD 470 Boardmembers:
It seems to me the soultion is simple...control the technology for your own use. Send out a text message to everyone that signs up and wants to receive a daily, weekly or "Emergency" text about the school and/or functions. Cost to do this would be minimal to say the least.
This makes me wonder how the school teaches our students, when the administration and school board refuse to get on board with current technology?
I am disappointed with the current actions of the board, but it is a very curable problem that needs to be addressed.
My other concern is the fact we voted the new bond issue to enhance security, but the only actions taken seem to be stalling out the tennis court, putting in a septic tank and deciding we need to raise the sales tax to make the roads nicer to the new football stadium.
We need to make the students safety the first priority, not somewhere after the football field, tennis court and every other fool thing that seems to come along.
James - you might have missed a small human interest story last night. At the back of the room were several boys and a lady. One of the boys was in a Boy Scout uniform. After the meeting, they came up to the City Clerk's desk for some more agenda sheets. I think that it might have been an exercise in civic responsibility and exposing the lads to city government. I wish now that I had talked to them out of curiosity but if course I am not a journalist. Perhaps we and the Commission should keep an eye out for who attends the meeitngs and perhaps encourage their participation.
Rick
I did see them, I should have asked.
That is a boy scout program I think, where you get a merit badge (do they still do those?) for going to some city meetings.
and other meetings.
Oh yea, i cant resist this.
They did look Hispanic didn't they?
hmmmmm
:) :) :)
Hispanic? Ok, I'll bite. What's the deal with being hispanic at a City Meeting.
Well ask some of the former commissioners about that. Maybe they can answer it for you
I am a former commissioner. Any questions I can answer, I would be glad to.
"Hispanic? Ok, I'll bite. What's the deal with being hispanic at a City Meeting."
Isn't there an ordinance against being Hispanic in public?
What a bunch of freaking racists.
A Boy Scout at the meeting? GOOD FOR HIM. Ark City needs way more of that and way less of racist whisper campaigns.
That kid is the future of Ark City.
Treat him like it.
Guess i shouldnt have said that.
The reason was that people often point out negative things about people of certain groups - and post about them on here - ...
So I just wanted to point out that this person doing well was a member of that group.
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