Nuisance
animals, debris in yards getting attention
by Ivan
Foley
Landmark editor
Nuisance dogs and unsightly yards — and what to
do about each — were hot topics for the Dearborn
Board of Aldermen Thursday night.
There have been complaints about dogs — viewed as
vicious and a threat by some neighbors — at a residence
in the city. City officials and a county law enforcement
officer have spoken with the owners of the dogs, but neighbors
say the dogs are still not being properly confined.
Dearborn board members agreed to terms of an animal control
ordinance that's based on Platte County's current ordinance.
The Dearborn city attorney must make a few adjustments
in the text of the ordinance, then send it back to the
aldermen. It's expected the ordinance will be ready for
approval at the board's next meeting.
Passage of the ordinance would give animal control enforcement
powers in Dearborn to the Platte County Sheriff Department's
animal control officer.
Dearborn would pay the county a fee of $500 per year
for the service, city officials said.
Debris, excessive vegetation, mattresses and appliances
can be found in some yards in the city, and resident Steve
Counts asked the board when residents could expect the
city to begin enforcing its ordinance pertaining to these
matters.
After some discussion, aldermen expressed some doubt
that their current ordinance is specific enough to be
enforceable. It was decided to have the city attorney
study the ordinance and make a recommendation back to
the board.
In the meantime, Mayor Marvin Landes agreed that owners
of residences in apparent violation of the ordinance should
be sent a letter along with a copy of the current ordinance
from the city.
In other business:
•Landes officially announced the appointments of
Delba (Denny) McAuley and Bill Brooks to the board. McAuley
was sworn in at the meeting; Brooks was out of town and
will take his oath at the next meeting.
•Landes told the board the county has agreed to
give the city $300,000 for parks development, with that
money coming from the county's half cent park sales tax.
The city cannot spend the money at Dean Park, since it
actually sits across the county line into Buchanan County.
The city will explore other opportunities on which to
use the park money.
•"We better be careful on our spending the
next couple of months," was the remark from alderman
Lila Scrivener as she looked at the city's budget/financial
statement, which shows funds to be tight.
•Landes said the connection to Kansas City water
is coming closer to being a reality. Once the line is
brought to Dearborn's connecting point, the city must
begin making payments on the line. Landes said when the
city begins using water from Kansas City, Dearborn will
shut down its own water plant and savings from the closing
will be put toward paying for the Kansas City line.
•It was announced the Christmas in Dearborn celebration
will be held Saturday, Dec. 7 from 4-7 p.m. along Main
Street.
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