The city of Oakland held their monthly board meeting on February 10. The beginning of the meeting seemed like an ordinary monthly meeting.
However, when the board reached the agenda item that allowed the residents to speak, one resident had a few things to get off his chest.
Glendal Parrish, a resident of Oakland, brought up a subject that has been the bane of his, and other resident’s existence; loose dogs.
Parrish owns houses in a neighborhood that has issues with dogs running loose.
Chris Idleman, the person contracted to be Animal Control for Oakland just happened to be in attendance. Things became a little heated when Parrish began questioning Idleman about how he does his job.
“How many dogs have you caught this month,” Parrish asked. “I can barely step in my yard to do work without stepping in something not nice.”
Idleman retorted with “I have to give two warnings, that’s law.” Parrish asked again, “how many dogs have you picked up?”
When Idleman replied that he had not picked up any dogs in the past month, things became a little more heated in the room. Parrish was not satisfied with the answer.
“I rest my case,” Parrish said, then turned his sights on the council. “Council, are y’all doing y’alls jobs?” Parrish then went a little more in depth with his frustrations. “If y’all haven’t picked up any dogs, but still taking our money, y’all would make good politicians, wouldn’t you? There’s another dog that’s been there so long, he thinks he’s the mayor.”
Idleman then used this chance to defend his inactions on the issue at hand.
“You called three times,” Idleman told Parrish. “The first time, I left straight from work. I couldn’t find the dog, and I drove all over.
“The next two times you called, I went over there and made contact with the owners. By law, I have to give two warnings, I haven’t received another call.”
The tension seemed to ease when both parties realized they are both stuck in a perpetual problem with loose animals.
The board then discussed ways to deter residents from allowing their dogs to run amok.
One of the agenda items discussed before the dog issue, was needing a contract worker to mow and weedeat the cemetery.
Idleman voiced his desire to be contracted to do it. Rhonda Whitsett, the town clerk, told the council of another lawn service placing their bid as well.
The board decided to run an advertisement for two weeks requesting bids for the position. The agenda item will be revisited at the March meeting. The council also is looking for a contract worker to clean up around the city’s dumpsters.