Bob Levesque speaks to the Williston City Council as Bob Echols listens.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
The Williston City Council isn’t ready to contribute money to the future municipal animal shelter, at least not yet.
Councilman Charles Goodman pleaded with council members at their July 2 meeting to contribute money that would assist two animal advocacy groups in building the $300,000 facility as soon as possible.
Goodman said the city will get the animal shelter at half price considering all the private donations and agency contributions.
“What we need to do is put this in the budget, Goodman said.
Goodman says the current city shelter isn’t fit for housing animals.
Councilman Charles Goodman couldn’t convince his fellow board members to provide a portion of the funding for a new animal shelter.
Bob Levesque said his group, Levy Animal Friends, and a second group, For Our Friends the Animals Foundation are working to raise the necessary money for the project.
Levesque said they need $200,000 in the bank before USDA will release a $100,000 grant for the project.
To reach that point, Levesque said the groups involved in building the shelter need to raise an additional $65,113. He was hoping the council would provide some of the money.
Councilman Justin Head said Goodman made a good point about the city getting the animal shelter for a low price, but he wasn’t ready to commit any tax dollars. He said the council needs harder numbers before it could make a decision to spend money on the future shelter.
“I understand completely, but we need to find out as soon as possible what it will cost,” Head said.
Philanthropist Bob Echols, president of For Our Friends the Animals Foundation is contributing $125,000 to the project. He offered to chip in an additional $40,000 if the council would agree to give money to the animal shelter project.
“I am willing to up the ante if you are willing,” Echols said.
Council President Nancy Wininger said she didn’t want to place any money in the current city budget for the shelter. She didn’t want to send a message to USDA that it doesn’t have to provide grant money.
Echols has contributed $25,000 to the project. As Levesque and other animal advocacy groups reach certain benchmarks, Echols will contribute additional money toward his full commitment of $125,000.
Levesque said $9,234 has been generated in fundraisers and he indicated more events are planned.
The city’s budget discussions for the 2019-20 year haven’t officially begun. Budget workshops are being scheduled. The first workshop is set for 6 p.m. on July 23 at City Hall.
Selecting City Clerk
Council members are reviewing the backgrounds of about 50 applicants for the position of city clerk. Former Clerk Fran Taylor resigned in June to take a Department of Defense job in Maryland.
The board decided the council would a hold workshop at 5 p.m., July 15 to review applications. Each council member can bring a maximum of five candidates for discussion.
Council members will meet in regular session the following day but won’t conduct interviews at that time.
The council was in agreement that it wouldn’t be difficult to weed out the lesser candidates and pick those that were the most qualified for discussion.
They don’t have to name five candidates. Councilman Marguerite Robinson said she has three applicants in mind.
Approving Subdivision Plat
Council members gave final approval to a minor subdivision plat near the Williston High School football stadium.
The property, a grassy field currently used by football fans for parking, is subdivided into four lots. The subdivision, owned by McCoy Holdings, LLC., is called Stadium View Acres.
The big debate at the council meeting was whether the developer would be required to provide a sidewalk.
Ultimately the council voted to require construction of sidewalks before the individual homes on the property receive a certificate of occupancy.
The city has carried a largely unenforced policy on the books for many years requiring sidewalks for new development. The policy is in the Land Development Code.
Council members are not requiring the full sidewalk to be constructed at one time. Instead the sidewalk will be constructed one section at a time as homes are constructed. The sidewalk requirement kicks in before a certificate of occupancy can be issued.
Public Works Director C.J. Zimoski said it could make for an awkward situation as portions of the sidewalk are built for new homes and the remaining property remains bare ground until more homes are added.
City of Williston Regular Meeting July 2, 2019: Posted July 5, 2019
