Nevada Council enacts leash law

Nevada Daily Mail

It is now the law in Nevada -- dogs must be on a leash.

Monday night the Nevada City Council voted unanimously to give its final approval to a general ordinance requiring dogs to be on a leash, in a fenced yard, tied up or in an area with a properly operating electronic fence.

Otherwise, according to the ordinance, dogs found running at large can be picked up by an animal control officer and impounded at the city animal shelter; or if the owner can be determined, "returned to the owner and enforcement action taken at the discretion of the animal control officer."

Until the enactment of this ordinance Nevada has never had a leash law. What it had was a control ordinance, requiring dogs to be under the control of its owner.

In other business the council:

* Voted 5-0 to accept the $8,699 bid from Sutherlands for a post frame garage building for the city's facilities maintenance department. This department has been located in the garage portion of the city hall and needs to move to make room for fire and police department equipment. The new building is to be located northeast of the new fire station on property purchased by the city in 2012.

* Voted 5-0 to accept the $85,000 bid for a 2001 Vac-Con V390/1000 LHA Combination Sewer Cleaner. The council also voted unanimously to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving a three-year lease purchase agreement through U.S. Bancorp Equipment Finance Inc. for the $85,000 sewer cleaner truck, with an annual payment of $29,719.38. The purchase of this equipment will allow the city to have a regular program of sewer cleaning.

* Voted 5-0 to pass on first reading a general ordinance amending section 20-23 of the city code so the Municipal Court can assess a $3 Sheriff Retirement Fund Surcharge as required by state law.

* Voted 5-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving an agreement with the Vernon County Commission for 2013 real and personal property tax billing and collection for the 2013 tax year.

* Voted 5-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance amending the city's contract with Allgeier, Martin & Associates, Joplin to include the engineering of the replacement of the remaining sewer interceptor lines. This is to reduce the amount of water that infiltrates and overloads the sewer system during times of heavy rain. The interceptor lines were made of corregated galvanized metal and over time have corroded. The project will be paid for with a loan from the State Revolving Loan Fund. The amendment also increases the total fee for Allgeier Martin from $629,000, dating from 2007, to $819,000 currently.

* Voted 5-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance setting the general and special real estate and personal property taxes in Nevada at 67.78 cents per $100 assessed valuation for Nevada's general fund and 20 cents per $100 assessed valuation for the library fund. These rates were set by the Missouri State Auditor.

* Voted 5-0 to give final approval to an agreement with Vernon County and the Vernon County Assessor for the assessment of real and personal property for the city of Nevada. This service will cost the city $200 per month from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, 2017.

* Voted 5-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance releasing the Neighborhood Improvement District assessment on property owned by Jesus and Lorena Ornelas at the Nevada Country Club, since the property has been sold.

* Voted 5-0 to give final approval to a special ordinance authorizing an engagement letter with Cunningham, Vogel & Rost P.C. for legal services regarding drafting a leash law.

* Voted 5-0 to give final approval to a special ordinance transferring property at 702 N. Clay Street to the Nevada R-5 School District. The property was forclosed on by the Wells Fargo Bank and transferred to the city with the intention of the city then giving it to the school district.