November 4, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
A manager has been chosen for Smithville’s new Central Bark Dog Park.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting the Smithville Aldermen named Emmaly Bennett, who also serves as an employee at the DeKalb Animal Shelter, to oversee the dog park.
Bennett, who is a city employee, will be given a 90 cent per hour increase in pay for the extra duties.
The recommendation for a dog park manager came from Megan Moore, Director of the Animal Shelter, who addressed the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen during a recent special meeting and suggested Bennett for the job.
In her written proposal, Moore outlined the benefits of having a dog park manager: Increase safety and compliance of animals and people; reduce the risks of dogs being left unattended; and reduce the number of calls and stress to city officials by providing a contact for dog park related matters.
Moore said a dog park manager would be responsible for: checking rabies tags or certificates, upkeep of sanitation stations; landscape management, locking and unlocking entry, enforcing dog park rules, providing a non-emergency contact for citizens to report issues or suggestions, working with law enforcement if any issues arise, overseeing any future maintenance to the fence or equipment, and checking the park multiple times during normal business hours.