The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


Why-No Leash Law For Cats

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher

Gladstone Board Meeting

"I was just wondering if there was a leash-law for dogs, why can't there be a leash-law for cats?" Larry Foster, a resident questioned Gladstone board members.

The question came up at the regular Gladstone board meeting Monday evening, June 11th of which Jim Hetrick Mayor Pro Tem, opened the meeting for the second month in the absence of Mayor Rex McKinney.

"I had a problem, but it has been taken care of as far as I'm concerned, but there are cats that aren't being taken care of.

"I'm tired of them being on my truck, and I'm tired of them urinating on my back porch. We need a law. We need something," he said.

Foster said he understood the county won't even come down and pick up cats.

"In fact, that is the first thing on her (dog-catcher's) answering machine is that we don't pick up cats."

Foster wondered, "if there was an ordinance, wouldn't they be obligated to pick up the cats?"

Foster said two of them was Swanie's cats and he talked to him three days ago and he said there wouldn't be a problem, he would take care of it, and he has.

He thought Burlington, IA had tried to vote in an ordinance several years ago, but they wouldn't.

"I don't know if it was too big of nuisance for them to do so, or why they didn't."

Foster said he understood it was hard to put a cat on a lease, " but they shouldn't just let them out and be able to run and get in your flowers and do all the things that they do. They're more of a nuisance than a dog."

"Can't you just shoot "em?" said "Willie" Bielser.

Foster said, "I don't know if I could discharge a gun- (in town)."

"The only person that can shoot anything is your dad," Swanie said, looking at Clerk Joyce Hetrick. "Shootin' moles. He was good at it."

Board members decided to find out with their attorney Mike Neff what others were doing in the area about the cat issue. Foster said he appreciated it.

Robert Swanson asked if they were going to do something about the Homecoming Committee reporting to the board. He said it has come to his attention they were making a recipe book and he has asked about two dozen people and none of them were ever asked. If the recipe book is from the people of the village, Swanie thought it would be beneficial to have it reported to the board and it could be in the newspaper so people would know.

Further discussion found the date of the Gladstone Homecoming had been changed. There was also some confusion over fruit baskets the committee had given to seniors. Swanie said,

"They are down here to give a report, but they don't report to us, except when they want money."

Guest Matt Gray said the Gladstone Homecoming was set for August 23, 24, and 25th. Byron Sebastian said it was due to the carnival having a conflict and that they had no choice.

It was hoped the Homecoming Chair Lisa Lafary would give a report for better communication to benefit the board of the goings-on in the community.

In other business the board:

The meeting was adjourned for a photo of the Board members by The Quill.

Mayor Rex McKinney was absent, all other members were present including Hetrick, Junior "Willie" Bielser, Robert Swanson, and re-elected for her second term Darlene Manes, and newly elected Byron Sebastian, Mike Hopkins, and Joyce Hetrick Gladstone Village Clerk.

Guests were Ronald James, Don Olson, Frank and Margaret Johnson, Larry Foster, Amanda Seitz, Gary Binder, and Matt Gray.

The next board meeting will be Monday, July 9 at 7 p.m. at the Gladstone Community Building. The public is invited to attend.