Town has raccoon problems
RUSSELLVILLE -- Town residents complaining of raccoons in their gardens and yards will have to figure out how to get rid of the pests themselves. Russellville Town Council members Jim Rodgers, Don Reddish and Jean Gross determined that problems with raccoons were up to the individual property owner to resolve and not an issue for the town.
"One of the problems is the vacant buildings in town. That hotel has more tenants now then it has ever had," joked Town Deputy Mike Biggs. "If they are causing damages you can do whatever you have to do."
Council President Don Reddish reported that the golf course has a problem with muskrats.
"We have a guy to come catch them. He can only do it during the hunting season, but he gets rid of them for us," said Reddish.
At the end of the discussion, the town council members and deputy determined individuals needed to deal with the raccoons.
"As long as they don't endanger anyone else, they can do whatever they need to," said Reddish.
The board reluctantly accepted the resignation of Street Superintendent and Assistant Water Superintendent Chet Leatherman.
"He has done a terrific job. I hate to see him go," said Reddish. "We will have to replace him and we'll be investigating who to name."
Ordinance 2009-1 was passed by the council following three readings of it. This ordinance establishes additional appropriations for 2009. They include a total of $85,693 from the general fund, $41,592 from the Motor Vehicle fund, $3,600 from the Local Road and Street fund and $6,834 from the capital improvement fund.
A $100 payment to the Putnam County Emergency Management Operations was approved for a sign to be placed on their mobile emergency unit.
"The unit is used for disasters and secondly for education," explained Biggs.
"For $100 it gets our name up in lights," said Reddish. "It's a good way to get our name out there."
A problem with the town warning siren not going off was discussed. Some people received phone calls from the new automated system installed by the 911 center.
"A lot of people didn't get calls. Some don't have landlines and can't get calls. We need to contact Kim Hyten or whoever to see what the problem was," said Reddish.
Announcements by the council included the Water Consumer Confidence Report being mailed out June 19. Appropriations for the 2009 budget have been properly advertised and will be mailed to the Department of Local Government on June 25 following the approval of 2009-1.
A clean-up day has been set for the town on August 22. The town will provide a dumpster for the event.
The next meeting of the Russellville Town Council will be July 15 at 7 p.m.