Dogs and public works fill agenda

The Odessa Town Council met Monday evening in the public library for its regular meeting. Several visitors and interested citizens were present.

Airport

A supplemental airport agreement was approved by the council, whereby the $10,000 additional cost to finish the work on the Runway 2-20 Rehabilitation and Runway Safety Area Improvements Project would be paid via a $9,000 grant approved by the FAA’s Mary Vargas, with the remaining $1,000 to be paid by the Town of Odessa. That $1,000 might also be reduced by another $500 if an additional grant application is approved.

Sasha

Due to the discovery of adverse health issues, Odessa K-9 officer Sasha was officially declared “surplus” by the council and will now be sold for one dollar to her previous handler. There was no report on efforts to obtain a replacement K-9.

Growth

People who have recently bought property in Odessa have requested an extension of the water main to the end of 7th Avenue, a street which has been platted by the Town of Odessa but was never built, according to town attorney Mark DeWulf. The request would involve digging of a trench at the property owners’ expense, laying of a six-inch water main at the Town’s expense and closure of the trench again at the property owners’ expense.

Several neighbors from the south hill area adjacent to the property in question were present to air their concerns about whether or not a proper roadway was also to be constructed. Public works director Rod Webster said that a roadway built to code would cost approximately $300,000.

With no one present wanting to put an end to new home ownership in town but still wanting to preserve the quality of the south hill neighborhood, the council opted to give the issue more study before acting. Visions of a dirt or gravel road snaking through the sagebrush were not looked upon with favor, but the $300,000 cost of a road gave everyone pause.

Police

Dog issues have escalated within the past year, as reported by Town Marshal Brent Dell. In many cases, the dogs were not running at large but were with their owners in their own yards when others walking their dogs on a leash went past, prompting the unleashed dogs to leave their yards and attack the (usually) smaller dog being walked. The result was traumatic for all concerned.

Dell said one suggestion he has for folks walking their dogs is to take along pepper spray and be prepared to use it. He and Deputy Marshal Les Jimerson have also been following their protocol and issuing citations in the event of repeated infractions. The police are unsure why there has been such a surge in dog attacks this past year. One suggestion from the public was that a complaint form should be posted online, so that citizens could more easily submit it to law enforcement without having to call 911.

See also the notice to dog owners in this week’s Classifieds.

Fire

Don Strebeck reported that a broken power line caused a fire between Odessa and Wilbur that kept the department busy the entire afternoon. Other than that, things had been fairly quiet on the firefighting front.

The council’s first budget meeting for the coming year will be held Wednesday, September 4.