MORAN — Moran council members will discuss further whether to offer for adoption dogs and other pets picked up and not claimed from the city pound. COUNCIL MEMBERS voted 4-0 — Chryll Ginn was absent — to purchase a swingset for the city park at a cost of $3,114. Installation will include protective groundcover. IN OTHER business, council members:
Members discussed the issue at their meeting Tuesday night.
As is, dogs, primarily, are claimed soon after word gets out they have been picked up. In Moran, pets are about as familiar as residents, said Shane Smith, police chief.
Those not claimed after three days are euthanized.
“Probably nine of 10 we pick up are dumped here,” said Smith, leading to a sorry end for the animal.
Councilman Jim Mueller proposed those not claimed could be put up for adoption. Mueller also encouraged fellow council members to consider Iola’s new ordinance forbidding pets be chained when outdoors.
“Let’s think about it for a while and talk again next month,” Mueller said.
Without going into detail, council members said Moran no longer transports strays to the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility in LaHarpe because of associated costs.
They put off for the time being discussion of a digital information sign that has been proposed for outside City Hall. Mueller allowed its cost likely would be $10,000. He suggested putting aside $3,500 each of the next three budget years — starting with 2016 — to go toward purchase of the sign.
Mayor Phil Merkel, also Moran fire chief, said signed contracts for a consolidation of local fire departments had not yet been received from Osage and Marmaton townships, although boards of each had given their blessings. The third department is Moran’s.
The consolidation isn’t due to be enacted until Jan. 1, which probably is the hold-up on the contracts, Merkel said.
— Learned a trailer to train firefighters in how to deal with interior fires would be brought to Moran on Oct. 4 by the University of Kansas. It will be set up on the Marmaton Valley High parking lot and starting at 9 a.m. firefighters from Allen and Anderson counties will join in training.
— Were told by Smith MVHS students would be checked for seatbelt use before and after school on Sept. 9. Those not buckled up will be briefly lectured on the wisdom of doing so.
— Told Mitch Bolling they would forward to Westar a letter he wrote asking for financial assistance for repairs to equipment at his meatpacking business that occurred during a power outage in late June and early July. Bolling said total damage was about $15,000 and asked reimbursement of his out-of-pocket expenses, $1,206.43. “It was a Westar problem not ours,” said Councilman Jerry Wallis. “There was no negligence on the city’s part.”
Moran may put stray dogs up for adoption
