By Lucky Kidd
LYONS, Kan. — The Lyons City Council Monday engaged in a lengthy discussion on a contract for animal control services with Lyons Veterinary Clinic, which may lead to changes in the contract going forward. That discussion centered on two major issues, a monthly fee the city pays to the vet clinic, and matters related to a city-owned incinerator used for animal cremation.
The City of Lyons pays the clinic a monthly fee of $200, and also pays the clinic for housing dogs picked up by the animal control officer, medical costs, and other fees including charges for incinerating animals. It is these two items that drew the most discussion.
Council member Mary Kendrick questioned why Lyons is charged that fee and other cities in Rice County along with the city of Nickerson are not. She and other council members also objected strongly to the city having to pay the clinic for the use of the city-owned incinerator.
Another issue relates to the current contract, which while signed by Lyons Veterinary Clinic’s owners apparently was never signed by the city.
Staff has engaged in discussions with the clinic about the existing agreement and possible changes in any new contract.
Another topic of discussion involved issues with traffic in the area of Park Elementary School, particularly at dismissal time when there have been problems with people picking children parking in the street. A few years ago the council changed Workman and Commercial Streets on the east and south side of the school to one-way.
Park Principal Kristin Borrowman told the Council a lot of the issues may stem from a lack of communication related to traffic patterns. While they communicated with a lot of parents, she acknowledged they should have done more. “What we are finding,” Borrowman said, is “where a lot of our backup in traffic comes from is when we have parents who are not the primary person who usually picks them up, or a grandparent, aunt or uncle who do not know the procedure.”
Maps of the traffic plan were handed out to the council, and Borrowman said they plan to get those maps out to patrons through various means. The Council also talked about some other issues in the area of the school, and Borrowman noted due to the pre-K through 2nd grade nature of Park many parents need to secure their children in child safety seats before leaving the area.
One other traffic issue discussed by the Council involved a request to erect Children at Play signs along South Dinsmore due to continued problems with high speed traffic and the number of young children in that area.
The Council approved a grant agreement with the Kansas Corporation Commission for $18,600 to replace streetlights with some more energy efficient. Community Development Coordinator Tanner Faust and Public Works Director Jared Jones noted the new lights will also last much longer than what they have now. The City will handle installation of the lights as the local match for that grant.
Jones was also recognized as the city’s Employee of the Month. City Administrator Troy Houtman said Jones has taken on a lot of responsibilities, and he already has a lot on his plate. That was recognized by Faust, who served as interim city administrator until Houtman was hired last month, in recommending Jones for the award.
The Council also approved the route for this year’s Lighted Christmas Parade December 14th and an ordinance certifying Lyons as a Broadband Ready City, which basically said the city will follow state guidelines such as rates charged for use of city right of way.
