Park Hills considers DREAM designation, flood buyout

Among the business Park Hills City Council will deal with at tonight’s meeting, the Council will decide whether to pursue designation as a DREAM city, address a request for amendment of the vicious dog ordinances, and discuss the possibility of a flood buyout.

The Council also will consider changing residency requirements for several city department heads, speed limits on some roads, a request to hold a sidewalk sale downtown on Aug. 8, and a jury trial request for a municipal charge. Mayor David Easter also plans to present proclamations to the city’s pool staff for a rescue June 26.

The public monthly meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall following an executive session in the Depot conference room.

In light of the news that the Missouri Department of Economic Development will continue the Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) program, Park Hills city staff would like to apply to become a DREAM city. The application requires support from the Council and an agreement to commit $60,000 in cash and in-kind match contributions to downtown district improvements. Designation as a DREAM city would give Park Hills accelerated access to grants and other economic incentives.

Farmington was officially named a DREAM city in October.

The Council will address a request from Peggy Thomas to change an ordinance that deals with vicious dogs. Thomas’ two dogs were attacked by two other dogs on March 21 while she was in a wheelchair. All the dogs were on leashes, but the other owner could not control her animals and they ran across the street after Thomas’s dogs and her neighbor’s dog.

One of the large dogs bit and shook Thomas’ Yorkshire terrier. The vet bill came to $94.10.

Thomas reported the attack to police and the case went to Municipal Court.

Current ordinances call for vicious dogs and cats to be restrained at all times. A dog may be deemed vicious if there is evidence it has previously attacked, bitten or scratched any person, cat or dog, or if there is evidence that the dog was aggressive during an attack or in the past. City Prosecutor David Orzel told the Daily Journal in April that once an animal bites a person or other animal, Park Hills considers it a vicious animal and the owner is subject to the city ordinance that requires the animal be chained or in an enclosed area at all times.

Thomas said the owner continues to walk her dogs in the neighborhood, which causes Thomas to be fearful when she walks her dogs. In a letter to the city, Thomas said when she complained to Orzel, he told her that nothing can be done unless the dog bites a second time. Thomas asked the city to clarify the meaning of the vicious dog ordinance and tighten it if needed.

The Council will take a look at whether to offer a flood buyout of properties that suffered water damage from flooding during the May storms. The county has received a disaster declaration, making it eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency grants.

The Council will decide whether to provide a consistent speed limit of 35 mph from the west city limits near Highway 32 to the intersection with Division Street, as well as a lower speed limit of 25 mph from Division Street to West Main Street. Other issues include whether to expand the residency requirement area for department heads to include the Central R-3 School District instead of just within the city; consider selecting Bowen Engineering and Surveying for design and inspection services for the Haney pedestrian and bicycle trail project; decide whether to allow a sidewalk sale downtown during the annual City-Wide Yard Sale; approve the additional expenses that accompany a request for jury trial; and appoint recommended members to the Industrial Development Authority Board of Directors.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.