City Council has Gone to the Dogs

During the latest Malta City Council meeting on May 24, 2022, the council heard a report from Malta Public Works Director and City Animal Control Director Jim Truelove about several calls that have recently come in regarding dogs around town.

Truelove told the council that two of the reports did contain bites in them.

"Both of the bite reports were on kids," said Truelove. "In talking with the sheriff's deputies and following up by showing the reports to the judge, no actions were taken because in both cases, the dogs were in their own yards."

In one case, the child went into the yard to retrieve a football. In the other case, the child put their arm through a fence, presumably to pet the dog.

"I believe there was an agreement made between the County Health Nurse and the owners of the dog in the first case to self-isolate the dog for 10 days. But I am not certain on that," said Truelove.

Truelove went on to tell the council that another call was a near bite. There was no actual bite, but it was close.

And two other calls had to deal with two dogs that were across the street from the high school.

"Both of those dogs have had numerous calls made on them," Truelove said. "The dogs have been removed from Phillips County. They have been taken to a shelter to be worked with as both dogs have had some trauma dealt to them."

The City of Malta takes each call that comes in very seriously and follows up with each case to make sure that any action that needs to be taken is.

Truelove told the council that the Malta City Wide Clean-Up will be the week of June 13-17. And it can be extended if needed. If anyone needs something picked up, they are to call City Hall.

Truelove also informed the council that the City Pool has been painted. Some tile work will be done and then it can be filled. It will be ready for opening day on June 6.

Truelove said that all of the grass clippings containers have been placed around town and that the street sweeper has been repaired and will be back out.

City Clerk Lorie Bond told the council that Shay Garfield has been hired to be the new City Pool Manager. She is a Malta graduate from 2017 and was a lifeguard starting her sophomore year in high school and a member of the Malta Swim Team for 12 years.

Izzy Siegle has been hired as the Assistant Pool Manager. Izzy is a graduate of Glendive and spent many years on the swim team there. She also competed in college on the triathlon team during her freshman year at MSU-B this past year.

Bond also informed the council that the gym and dance room floors would be redone on June 28-29.

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, 2022 Malta Graduate and Co-valedictorian Eion Estill, who also recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, presented Jim Truelove with a mentor pin, thanking Truelove for his help with Eion's Eagle project.

Scout Leader Mark Knudsen said, "Who gets these pins is the Eagle Scouts' choice."

Truelove said, "This is a great honor, it was a pleasure working with Eion. He is a great kid and put a lot of hard work into getting his Eagle rank."

The only new business for the meeting was to look over the typed up rental agreement for the Malta Event Center. The council saw no problems with it as it was typed and passed it as is unanimously.

The next Malta City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, June 14, in City Hall at 5:00 p.m