By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Grayson city council had several items on their agenda for their regular meeting last week, including paving and a new pet ordinance, but they started their meeting with a testimonial from an out of state visitor.
Councilman Bradley Cotten told the council that he had recently spoke with an individual from a larger city in a more southerly state who had been in Grayson during Final Friday. The individual had also eaten at local restaurants and visited the sports park, and told Cotten they were impressed with what the city had to offer.
Councilman Michael Harper stressed to the council the importance of the Commission for Aging and Special Needs. Harper said he hoped the council would move forward with that commission, and also said that he knew of an individual that would be interested in heading up the commission. Mayor Troy Combs asked the council to assist him in finding individuals to serve on that commission.
Councilman Terry Stamper also made the council aware that he had received an email from the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) informing him that there were more state grants available for broadband upgrades and that the process of submitting for those grants would be open the following day.
In other business, Combs formally appointed Deana Miller as a new tourism commission member, with the full support of the council. Miller has been a local resident for almost thirty years and has lived in the City of Grayson for almost twenty years. Professionally, Miller has worked as a civil engineer, including twenty-five years for the Kentucky Department of Transportation, and ended her career as a branch manager over construction and maintenance in the four-county area of Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis. Miller has dealt with grants, construction, maintenance, and people, she told the council. Miller is retired from the Kentucky Transportation Department and is currently working for a Kentucky based engineering firm where she is involved in safety analysis and construction estimation.
Tourism Director Lana Axtell told council that tourism was currently planning the Octoberfest event, and is partnering with First Church for their Trunk or Treat event. Axtell said that tourism is also partnering with Scott Menix of Baysos Sports Pub for an after-hours party that will take place following Octoberfest at 10 p.m. The Octoberfest celebration will run October 25-27, and will begin with a costume party at the Grayson Gallery & Art Center, and end with the Blue Knights Raiders Run.
Grayson Utilities Commission Director Gerald Haney updated the council on the current projects involving the replacement of water pipes in the city. A current project focusing on replacing iron pipes will necessitate resurfacing in those areas affected by the upgrades. In those areas the resurfacing will be funded in part under a grant obtained for that purpose. This has the benefit of potentially allowing the city to take road department funds currently dedicated to those areas and using them to fund other city projects.
Finally, council discussed a new ordinance governing pets within the city limits, including a leash law. The potential ordinance would provide for concerns such as vaccinations and licensure, while the leash portion of the proposed ordinance would require the owner or keeper of an animal to not allow the animal to be off their premises, unless said animal is on a leash or restraint. Council heard the first reading of the new ordinance and discussed possible amendments or clarification.
Concerns that council members discussed and considered addressing included the number of dogs and cats that could be owned in the city, and the difficulty with enforcing the number of other regulations involved.
Other concerns discussed were what penalties or fines residents would incur for violations and which points of the new ordinance would take priority or precedence for enforcement. The council decided to review the potential ordinance and make any necessary revisions before the second reading.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
