Park Hills council amends animal regulation ordinance

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Published: Friday, November 14, 2008
Updated: Friday, November 14, 2008 9:39 AM CST

Park Hills City Council officially banned housing of mountain lions within city limits Thursday night. The same goes for lions, tigers, bears and 17 other wild animals.

The amended animal regulations ordinance also prevents city residents from having a leopard, ocelot, jaguar, jaguarondi, cheetah, margay, Canada lynx, bobcat, panther, hyena, wolf, coyote, fox, wild cat, wolf hybrid, nonhuman primate, or any deadly dangerous or poisonous reptile. Boa constrictors and pythons less than eight feet long are exempt from the new provision, as are events where a special permit has been issued by the city for entertainment purposes.

The ordinance was amended in response to a request to keep a mountain lion in city limits. City Administrator John Kennedy said the city denied that request under existing public safety laws. However, Kennedy told the council the request pointed out the need for a more specific ordinance. The amendment passed 6-0, with Ward I Councilman Mike Glore and Ward IV Councilman Terry Barnett absent.

Park Hills Fire Chief Rick Whaley accepted a $500 check from AmerenUE, presented by Justin Kelly for use on safety equipment. Whaley said the department plans to spend the money on an accountability plan that would keep track of all fire personnel during a fire.

“God forbid we have a collapse and we don’t know where some people are,” Whaley said.

Accountability plans range from $100 to $32,000. The department will look at different plans and decide what will work best. If they spend the $500 and turn in the receipts, they could be eligible for another $500, Whaley said.

Whaley also discussed the department’s recommendation for rescue extrication equipment and an air bag lifting system from among four bids. The council unanimously approved Whaley’s recommendation that they accept the $29,309 bid for Holmatro Rescue Equipment, which includes a power unit, spreader, cutter, ram and 5-bag lifting kit.

The council amended a park regulations ordinance to allow for extended use of the new walking path in Columbia Park. The new .63-mile lighted trail will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., an hour longer than other city parks. Other changes included closing the Park Hills Sports Complex 30 minutes after the lights are turned off after the last game or close of event. The park will remain closed until 8 a.m. When there are no activities scheduled, the complex will be closed from sunset until 8 a.m.

In other business, the council:

• Agreed to pave Hovis Farm Road with three inches of compacted asphalt, using about $132,921 in rollover funds from last year;

•  Read, but took no action, on a draft for excavation regulations;

• Tabled an ordinance dealing with auditing services and an ordinance that would make one-way a segment of an alley that runs between Crane and Haney streets;

• Accepted three annexation petitions and set hearing for each during the Dec. 9 regular council meeting.

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

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