The Whitney City Council heard an update on animal control efforts during a regular meeting held Thursday evening, April 18.
Fire Chief/Code Enforcement Officer David Gilmore and Code Enforcement Specialist Drew Youngblood told the council that the grace period for residents to register their dogs and cats without paying a fee will continue through May 11 as registration roundups are held.
The city has planned three registration events at Whitney City Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays — April 27, May 4 and May 11. Those registering early can register their pets for free on these dates. All pet owners who arrive by 1 p.m. will have time to register.
After the last roundup on May 11, pet owners must register at City Hall, and the regular fees will be charged. The normal registration fee is $5 for spayed/neutered animals and $30 for intact animals.
Citizens are asked not to bring their pets to registration to avoid potential conflicts with other animals and to keep people in attendance safe.
Official proof of rabies vaccination from a veterinarian is required, and pet owners will be turned away if the animal is not vaccinated for rabies as required by state law.
For those who want to register their pet as spayed or neutered, an official document must be presented from the clinic that performed the procedure proving that the dog or cat cannot reproduce. This is optional but encouraged.
If the dog or cat is chipped, owners are encouraged to bring paperwork showing chip registration numbers and contact information.
After registering, pet owners will be asked to provide a clear picture of their pet that onlyshows the animal in the frame. These do not need to be printed; they can be emailed to drew.youngblood@cityof whitneytx.com. Make sure to include your pet’s registration number and photo in the email.
Youngblood told the council that animal control equipment has been ordered, and the city is working on obtaining equipment for an animal shelter to be located behind the emergency medical services building. The money raised from pet registration will be used to fund the animal control facility.
In departmental reports, all department heads reported that their staff worked a lot of hours during the recent eclipse effort. Members of the community were thanked for their support and providing meals, and Operations Director Billy Pribble specifically thanked the Lake Whitney Amateur Radio Society for its assistance. While the area did not see an overwhelming number of visitors, the effort gave departments a chance to practice mobilizing quickly during a major event. It also strengthened relationships between neighboring departments as the entire area prepared for the unknown.
In the administrative report, Pribble said that a booklet is being prepared for incoming elected officeholders as the May city election nears. This has not been done before, but it will provide important information about training requirements and general operations to make transitions smoother in the future.
Gilmore reported that the fire department responded to 14 calls in the county and 43 calls in the city in March. He said that several members of the fire department stayed at the station for five days during the eclipse effort and were ready to assist the community if needed.
Youngblood reported that in code enforcement, 60 cases were opened in March with 20 still open and the remaining closed.
Police Chief Kyle Nevil reported that his department responded to 259 total incidents in March, resulting in 83 citations, 67 traffic stops and two total arrests.
The department arrested a local sex offender for failing to register, located a runaway juvenile and returned her home safely, and responded to Whitney Middle School after receiving an emergency call for help that turned out to be a prank. Nevil said that the student who made the call was identified within minutes with the assistance of Whitney ISD. The chief said that the department is assisting the Hill County District Attorney’s Office with a 2021 aggravated sexual assault of a child case involving multiple victims. Whitney PD secured DNA evidence to assist with the prosecution of the suspect.
EMS Director Megan Leighman reported that her department received 55 calls in March, with 70% of patients transported to medical facilities. The average response time was five minutes and two seconds. She said that EMS was able to equip both ambulances to be ready for response and staffed for five days during the eclipse. A temporary station was set up, and although the call volume was not as high as expected, it was an excellent opportunity for all city and county departments to prepare and execute a plan that can be used again in the future.
Public Works Supervisor Chris Brennan said that his department completed five water leak repairs and fixed one water line that was hit by contractors in March. A broken sewer pipe was repaired on Beth Street. Public Works also started installing playground equipment near the city park and repaired 80% of lights at the park.
Library Director Denise Carter submitted information showing that in March, the library had 967 visitors, issued 59 new cards, welcomed 159 computer users, facilitated 85 club meetings, and hosted 11 programs. The library has information available to help those interested learn how to get a GED. Amnesty month continues in April, with all fees waived when patrons return overdue books, CDs or DVDs to the library.
The council voted on two agenda items. A city employee handbook was approved after the wrong version was provided to the council for review last month. Pribble said that the issue was brought back before the council in the interest of transparency.
The rules of order and procedure for council meetings were also amended to revise protocols with the goal of improving operational efficiency and public participation.
The council’s next regular meeting date is Thursday, May 16, at 6 p.m. at the Lake Whitney Public Library. A special meeting will be held Thursday, May 9, to canvass the results of the Saturday, May 4, city election.
The Lakelander 