Eureka Springs City Council had one of its shortest meetings in recent memory Monday evening, but it was long enough for aldermen to spend up to a thousand dollars for four dog poop stations.
Alderman Melissa Greene had mentioned previously her idea of adding the stations, receptacles with plastic bags for cleaning up dog waste, to downtown. She said the kind that attaches to a trashcan would cost about $150 each, listed several locations around downtown that have them, and moved that the city buy four more.
Alderman Terry McClung asserted pet owners who bring animals with them on a trip were educated enough to come prepared. “Why wouldn’t they be?” he asked. He said pet owners should be responsible for their pets, not the city.
“Accidents happen,” Greene respomded. She said she has left home with one bag and needed two. She reiterated it would be a friendly thing for the city to do and not very expensive.
As for where to put four stations, McClung suggested they look at high foot traffic areas. Mayor Butch Berry mentioned there are plenty of pedestrians with dogs at the Music Park and along North Main. Alderman Kristi Kendrick figured Public Works would know the most effective spots, and council voted unanimously to spend no more than $1000 for four stations and supplies, and let Public Works staff decide where to put them.