Animal control position discussed at Kingston Council meeting

The town’s animal control position was among topics of discussion during Kingston Council’s regular meeting April 9.

An agenda item by council member Max Ponder was to discuss hiring an animal control officer and the rate of pay.

Police Chief Kasey Cox said he had already hired an animal control officer and Mayor Sarah Jones replied, “You’re not allowed to do that.”

Cox replied that actually, under the last city council, if three council members said “yes,”thathecouldhiresomeone and there had not been anything passed since then. “I needed somebody quick,” Cox said. “I spoke to three of you guys.”

The animal control officer, later identified as 18-year-old Destiny Carr, did not fit the job description which states the person must be 21, according to Jones.

During a prior agenda item in this meeting, the council tabled a vote to allow supervisors to hire someone without prior council approval.

“That was not voted on and we took no action,” Jones said. “There’s no rate of pay stated. We have the job description right here and that person does not meet the requirements of that position.”

Cox said an animal control officer can be 18 and Jones said the job description states otherwise.

“Well, your job description’s wrong,” Cox replied.

Cox said he had one application that he vetted he did not think that person would be a good candidate, and the only other one he had was someone who is a convicted felon and can’t have the job.

“So, the other one I physically got was Destiny,” Cox said. “I think she’s a good kid. I think she’s going to make a great officer.”

According to Jones, there were 25 applications.

“Nobody said there was more applications,” Cox said. “I am unaware of it until right now.”

The council voted to not hire an animal control officer at this time.

“That means this person cannot be working,” Jones said. “She’s not an employee and she cannot be up here working. She cannot be wearing a badge, driving town vehicles. She’s not an employee.”

After the meeting, Cox said Carr had been hired April 1 and that she was a good candidate who was interested in a law enforcement career, and becoming an animal control officer would be a good start. He also said the job description hadbeenchangedandhewas not aware of the requirement that the candidate must be 21.

In other agenda items during the meeting, no action was taken on granting an easement on South First Street next to the Marshall County Barn.

Fire Chief James Kuykendall said that Commissioner Chris Duroy wants to put in a covered parking area, but thatitwouldenduponKingston’s easement.Noactionwas taken because Duroy was not present for the meeting and it is expected to be discussed again when Duroy attends.

The council agreed to the appeal of a citation received by Traci Phipps, who was fined $255 for litter in her yard. Phipps said there are others who need to clean up their yards and they have not been fined. She said she was one of three people to receive the citation and that she is in the process of cleaning up the yard.

“Three people got tickets and it should have been 40,” Phipps said.

It was noted that the ticket was given by a person who is no longer employed by Kingston and that the town doesn’t currently have a code enforcement officer. Council members agreed to refund the fine Phipps paid and she will be working with the fire marshal on a plan to clean up the property.

Council members agreed to move forward with the Lexipol town policy manual that was approved during a March meeting.

Lexipol is a company that provides policy manuals for public safety agencies such as police and fire departments. During last month’s meeting, council members approved it at a cost of $4,995.05. However, during last week’s meeting, Kuykendall told the council there was a miscommunication with the company and the price went up to $10,568.00 because of the implementation levels involved.

This is only a one-time fee and then it’s an annual contract that costs about $1,500peryear.Thetownhas already paid for the program for the police and fire departments, so after discussion, the council voted to move forward with Lexipol.

Thecouncilapprovedrenting apumptouseatthesewer plant at a cost of $6,800 for two weeks. This is something that has to be done every couple of years.

Council member Danny Southerlend asked about hiring an extra person for Kingston Public Works who would handle mowing and maintenance work. Mayor Jones said hiring another employee was not budgeted for this fiscal year, so no action was taken.

A vote on eliminating automatic pay increases for required certification education for job positions was tabled until a pay scale is developed.

The council also voted to create an event fund for festivals and other activities, and they also agreed to set a budget review no later than May 14 for the fiscal year that begins July 1.