Critters a problem

REDKEY - Critter Control will once again be on the prowl for stray cats and dogs.

After receiving numerous complaints about dogs running loose and feral cats bothering residents and damaging property, Redkey council members agreed Thursday night to sign a 12-week contract with Critter Control, a private company operated by Tim Dale of rural Pennville.

Critter Control will be patrolling in Redkey for stray dogs and feral cats, setting traps as needed. The cost to the town will be $75 a week or $900 for the 12-week period.

Also there will be a $5 per animal fee for cats and dogs captured.

There will be a seven-day holding period for dogs and tame cats, but feral cats will be euthanized immediately.

If there are any emergency calls on weekends or after 8 p.m. or before 7 a.m., a flat rate fee of $159 will be charged per occurrence.

If wildlife such as raccoons or opossums are captured in a trap, they will be relocated to a rural area, Redkey town council president Doug Stanley said.

Sick or injured wildlife, deemed a threat to public safety, will be removed at no charge, according to the terms of the contract.

Stanley said the contract with Critter Control can be terminated by either party by giving 30 days written notice.

At Thursday's town council meeting Stanley said this action will probably make some residents very happy and others extremely upset, but it's something that needs to be done.

Stanley said that the town has $2,600 budgeted for the service, so he recommended trying it for 12 weeks with the option to renew.

If anything, the loose dog and cat situation appears to be 10 times worse than before, Redkey resident Terri Heston said Thursday, saying the cover for her barbecue grill was ruined as a result of damage from stray cats. She added that one stray cat got into her home, and was then chased through the house by her dog, upsetting her greatly.

In other business at Thursday night's meeting, town council members:

•Complained about residents leaving trash containers on streets and along curbs long after the regular collection day. Stanley said that the containers should be put out by the street after 7 p.m. on the day before they are to be collected, and retrieved by 7 a.m. the day afterwards. Otherwise, citations could be issued and fines assessed, Stanley said. Fire Chief Randy Young pointed out that having trash containers lining the town's streets all week contributes to the cat and raccoon problems.

Stanely said that specific complaints about trash containers being left along the curbs in violation of the town's ordinance should be directed to the Redkey clerk-treasurer's office during regular business hours.

•Heard a presentation about insurance coverage requirements from Bob Brown and Aaron Walters of Barnum-Brown Insurance Agency, Dunkirk. They also reviewed the town's inventory of equipment and structures, requiring insurance coverage.

•Listened to comments from Redkey resident James Phillips who asked that landlords be kept informed when tenants get behind on water bill payments. He said one of his tenants recently got four months behind in water-sewer bill payments, eventually leaving him as the property owner with a big bill to pay.

Council member Jim Funkhouser asked Phillips if he tried to take the tenant to small claims court, and Phillips replied: "I've never lost a case, but I've never collected a nickel either."

•Heard that townwide rummage sales will be Saturday, May 8, and the next townwide cleanup date will be the following Saturday, May 15.

•Listened to a report from Heston about vandalism at Morgan Park in need of repair. Graffiti had been written on park buildings and some playground equipment was damaged, she said. A "Helping Hands" park-wide cleanup day is planned for Saturday, April 24. Heston said Gamma Nu Sorority is coordinating this event and volunteer workers are being sought.[[In-content Ad]]