Loose Dog Discussion Part Of Bethany Council Session

Bethany’s Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance to allow the city to join the Missouri Clean Energy District in a move which is a preliminary step for creating a process to potentially allow property owners within the city to obtain assistance and incentives for making energy efficient improvements. The action came at a meeting held Monday night. The action is the initial step which is part of the the PACE Act. The Property Assessed Clean Energy Act is a federal program available for participation to all Missouri municipalities. Under the PACE program, each participating municipality establishes Missouri Clean Energy Districts which then administer the program by reviewing applications from property owners interested in participating. Property owners who make energy efficient improvements repay their improvement costs of a set time period through property assessments and as an addition to the property tax bills. The city has word of a property owner interested in the participating in the program.

Loose dogs within Bethany were again discussed at the Bethany Council session, but in the Public Input session of the meeting and brought up indirectly in Councilman Dan Robertson. Police Chief Brian Holloway says the department is now working under a zero-tolerance policy in regard to loose dogs. That means that dogs found loose in the city limits are subject to an immediate citation without a warning. That is also a procedure which is supported by city administration. Councilman Robertson stated he had received concerns regarding the cleanliness and space for dogs in the city’s kennels. Administrator Jacob Taylor stated that the city’s care meets inspection standards. It could be a a topic revisited at a future council meeting.

The Bethany Depot’s moving date has been pushed back due to recent rains. The city received that notification from contractor Trevor Patton, who is contracted to oversee the move of the Depot. That date had originally been set for September 14th. There is no new date which has been yet determined for the move.

The city has sent a letter of support to AMB Developments in their effort to obtain financing to rehabilitate the Village Place apartments.

Bethany’s Council also approved the recommendation of Bethany Fire Chief Jacob Denum for creating a 6-month volunteer term for those participating in the Bethany Fire Department Explorer program to receive a minimum wage rate following that term. Those 16 to 18 year-olds participating in the program will not be involved in an active fire situation but will assist firefighters with other tasks on site. The program is intended to show youth the basics of firefighting and potentially find future fire volunteers. Bethany’s Fire Department will also provide certification programs for Fire Fighter I and II levels beginning in October.