Thursday's Internet Edition, September 02, 2010.

Roane County High School band camp is this week at Camp Sheppard. Music is never far from the mind of Elaine Ashman, who can be seen sporting a noteworthy hairstyle as she plays her clarinet. Photo by Mark Higgs

Frank Looney said five dogs attacked him as he was riding a bicycle in the Circle Avenue area near his home last month. Looney told Spencer City Council members during their Thursday meeting that he had his dog on a leash walking alongside as he rode.

Looney, who pulled up his pants leg to show the bite marks, said he went to a hospital emergency room where he received a tetanus shot and was placed on antibiotics.

He said city officials need to research an ordinance controlling “biting dogs” including Dobermans, pit bulls, Rottweilers and German shepherds.

“I know the dogs were just doing what they were bred to do,” Looney said, adding that he did not know who owned the dogs and that he did not intend to file a lawsuit. “I just don’t want to have to carry a gun on my side all the time like it’s Gunsmoke.”

Mayor Terry Williams said city police were aware of the dogs’ owners and encouraged Looney to attend a magistrate court hearing on Aug. 26. The dogs have been ordered confined to their owners’ house, the mayor added.

Council member Robin Stump said a dog had once attacked her as she was walking her own dog.

“So I know what you’re going through,” she told Looney.

Williams said he would look into ordinances other cities already have in place and report back to Looney on what could be done in Spencer.

“I’m not against putting more teeth in our law,” the mayor said.

“It’s the children I worry about,” Looney said. “It’s no problem for me. I’ll heal.”

The city also took steps to allocate an additional $96,852 left over from the past budget. The mayor’s capital outlay account received $35,000; police salaries $20,000; a contingency fund $11,852; utilities and mayor’s supplies $10,000 each; and program planner supplies and city clerk supplies $5,000 apiece.

Another $130,000 had already been included as an unencumbered balance in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. Added to the recent windfall, the city has $226,852 in excess funds.

Also Thursday, Darol Lowe attended to weigh in on an ongoing city project that involves the demolition of structures that are considered inhabitable. Lowe suggested that some of the buildings could be renovated and made livable for the $5,000 to $6,000 each the city pays for property acquisition and demolition. Williams said that price would not cover renovations for any of the structures the city is tearing down.

The discussion soon turned to a familiar issue, concerns over rental properties. As he has done at previous meetings, Williams listed nonpayment of utility bills, trash and domestic incidents as frequent rental property problems. Stump agreed, and listed several incidents involving property on Church Street.

“I’ve had enough,” the mayor said, taking the unusual measure of striking his gavel on the desktop to end the conversation. Despite his intent, discussion continued for several minutes, including Lowe, a landlord.

“I think it’s the biggest problem facing us,” Williams said. “It may be too big for us to solve.”

Lowe offered to form a landlords’ association that could help alleviate some of the problems before they came to the attention of the city. The mayor did not comment on the suggestion.

Council members Cecil Banks, Toby Ford, David Holland, Aaron Richardson and Stump also:

ν Approved invoices for the U.S. 33 East water line extension as follows: $146,750.70 to Bruce Allen Inc.; $12,995.95 to Boyles and Hildreth, Consulting Engineers; and $550 to the W.Va. Dept. of Environmental Protection. City public works director Rob Miller said work on U.S. 33 was nearly finished, with progress on the Slate Run portion of the project set at about one-third complete.

ν Approved invoices for a water system improvement project as follows: $194,711.05 to Ferguson Waterworks; $50,160 to Young Builders & Construction Co. Inc.; $6,785.50 to Boyles and Hildreth; and $1,244.03 to the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council. Miller said work on the water treatment plant was less than 10 percent complete. Over 50 percent of new radio-read water meters had been installed, he said, adding that that portion of the project should be finished within three months.

ν Learned the city had received state grants of $20,000 for upgrades to Washington Park and $18,000 for improvements at Charles Fork Lake. The mayor said the park work could include landscaping, playground equipment and the removal of a small picnic shelter.

ν Heard a complaint relayed by Richardson about parking along the entrance to Lynn Street that sometimes makes it difficult for large trucks to navigate. The mayor said he didn’t think it was much of a problem and that there was nothing the city could do because the state owns the road.

The next regular session of city council will be Thursday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. in the municipal building.