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ELDORADO —
Eldorado City Council on Tuesday indicated a recently passed livestock ordinance banning everything from chickens to large reptiles and large snakes will go into force. However, a couple of revisions are expected to be taken up by the council at its next meeting.
Several city residents were on hand at the Tuesday meeting seeking revisions to the ordinance.
Mayor Rocky James, speaking to the crowd following the meeting, said two changes may be considered by council, an exemption for small animals and chickens when they are either a 4-H project of FFA project. In each instance, James said, the person seeking an exemption would be required to bring project certification to council and seek exemption for the project.
One area remained strong in the thoughts of James: “There will be no roosters.”
BURLIE GRIFFIN
Resident Burlie Griffin spoke in favor of chickens and said he enjoys hearing the crow of a rooster in the morning.
He said he is concerned about what happens to kids who get bunnies or chicks for Easter.
The new animal ordinance “is not fair to the general public of this city,” he said.
Griffin contended city ordinances such as the livestock ordinance cause loss of population.
“People are getting upset about it and are moving out of town,” he said.
While he was against one form of regulation, Griffin also asked for stronger enforcement in an other area.
He asked for more speed signs and enforcement of speed limits on Church Street and Illinois Avenue.
“Notify the people what is ahead,” he said. “We tend to have those who come flying low at night.”
Griffin said he represented his neighborhood in making the request.
Speeding, he said, has been a neighborhood topic.
“We do have problems,” Police Chief Shannon Deuel said.
He told Griffin officers are patrolling around the schools at high-traffic times and often the speeders are mothers who are late in taking children to school.
Driving habits and citizen caution were topics of both Deuel and Public Safety Commissioner Bob Briddick.
Briddick urged residents to lock their doors when not at home and to lock cars and trucks at night.
Periodically Eldorado has a wave of thievery and often the thieves pick the easy targets, unlocked vehicles and unlocked homes and sheds.
Deuell urged motorists to use extra caution at night as “the kids are going to be out, tee-peeing and pranking. We know they will be there; use caution when driving,” he said.
Eldorado City Council on Tuesday indicated a recently passed livestock ordinance banning everything from chickens to large reptiles and large snakes will go into force. However, a couple of revisions are expected to be taken up by the council at its next meeting.
Several city residents were on hand at the Tuesday meeting seeking revisions to the ordinance.
Mayor Rocky James, speaking to the crowd following the meeting, said two changes may be considered by council, an exemption for small animals and chickens when they are either a 4-H project of FFA project. In each instance, James said, the person seeking an exemption would be required to bring project certification to council and seek exemption for the project.
One area remained strong in the thoughts of James: “There will be no roosters.”
BURLIE GRIFFIN
Resident Burlie Griffin spoke in favor of chickens and said he enjoys hearing the crow of a rooster in the morning.
He said he is concerned about what happens to kids who get bunnies or chicks for Easter.
The new animal ordinance “is not fair to the general public of this city,” he said.
Griffin contended city ordinances such as the livestock ordinance cause loss of population.
“People are getting upset about it and are moving out of town,” he said.
While he was against one form of regulation, Griffin also asked for stronger enforcement in an other area.
He asked for more speed signs and enforcement of speed limits on Church Street and Illinois Avenue.
“Notify the people what is ahead,” he said. “We tend to have those who come flying low at night.”
Griffin said he represented his neighborhood in making the request.
Speeding, he said, has been a neighborhood topic.
“We do have problems,” Police Chief Shannon Deuel said.
He told Griffin officers are patrolling around the schools at high-traffic times and often the speeders are mothers who are late in taking children to school.
Driving habits and citizen caution were topics of both Deuel and Public Safety Commissioner Bob Briddick.
Briddick urged residents to lock their doors when not at home and to lock cars and trucks at night.
Periodically Eldorado has a wave of thievery and often the thieves pick the easy targets, unlocked vehicles and unlocked homes and sheds.
Deuell urged motorists to use extra caution at night as “the kids are going to be out, tee-peeing and pranking. We know they will be there; use caution when driving,” he said.
During the meeting:
— Commissioner Jeff Minor requested residents make a check tonight to be certain street lights in neighborhoods are working. If they are out, call the City Clerk’s Office to report the outage.
The city pays for streetlights, burning or not burning.
— Council authorized purchase of a new trencher for the Water Department at a cost of about $50,000.
Water Superintendent Tom Hosman said the old trencher, about 20 years old, “locked up.”
“In order for us to continue to put in these new (water) mains, we will have to have a trencher,” he said.
Council determined while they did not want to spend the money, in the long run installing mains using city workers and equipment saves money.
Hosman said the old trencher has parts interchangeable with the planned new one and it will be used for parts.
— Hosman reported the old mains in Happy Hollow now are shut off and the department has started replacing mains in Beulah Heights.
— Street and Alley Superintendent J.B. James reported his department has been cutting shrubbery that creates blind spots at intersections.
Should residents know of a blind spot created for motorists due to limbs and shrubs, they are asked to call the City Clerk’s Office.
— Council authorized application for a Community Development Assistance Program housing rehabilitation grant for an area of State, Douglas and West streets.
Mayor James asked residents of the area to send to the city letters indicating the need for the grant. The letters, when included with the grant application, will give Eldorado extra points toward a grant award.
