Group, city talk about dog park, will present ideas at next council meeting

July 31--GLASGOW -- A committee of Glasgow City Council members, the president of the Friends of Glasgow Dog Park Incorporated and the director of Glasgow Parks Department met at Glasgow Parks and Recreation on Wednesday to further discuss a proposed Glasgow dog park.

Krissie Coe Fields, president of Friends of Glasgow Dog Park Inc., developed a first meeting of interested individuals in June. Since then, the group has decided on its name, created a Facebook page, established a post office box and email address, filed incorporation papers with the Kentucky secretary of state's office, applied with the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status as a nonprofit organization and selected sites at Weldon Park it believes would be appropriate, she said.

On Wednesday, Fields said the group had just received its 501(c)(3) status, which makes the group a tax-exempt organization.

"I'm just here to answer questions," Fields said. "I think answers have been found to some of the questions that were asked at the council meeting."

On July 14, Fields and other members of the group approached city council to share information about the proposed park.

Council member Wendell Honeycutt said that one of the questions at the council meeting was insurance costs. Honeycutt said that after research, he found that there would be no additional insurance premium. The city's loss prevention officer has looked at the proposal and area for the park and offered suggestions, such as appropriate signage, separating large and small dogs and attempting to regulate the number of dogs in the park at a time.

Fields referred to a "Memorandum of Understanding" which she handed out to each of the council members, which states that there will be two separate, fenced-in areas for big and little dogs.

"We can't have someone there every time someone brings their dog, counting tickets every time a dog comes into the park," she said.

The memorandum refers to Friends of Glasgow Dog Park Inc. as the "Sponsor," and states that each separate area for small and large dogs shall have equal amenities.

The memorandum also states that "the Off-Leash Dog Area is owned by the City of Glasgow, which permits the Sponsor to improve the Off-Leash Dog Area and assist with the maintenance and operation of the Off-Leash Dog Area subject to the approval of City of Glasgow."

It also states that any improvements of the dog area become the property of the Glasgow Department of Parks and Recreation.

Funding for the dog park shall be obtained by Friends of Glasgow Dog Park Inc., and the parks department shall provide funding for grass maintenance and/or maintenance of the grounds as deemed necessary. Insurance for the dog park will be part of the current insurance already held by the city, the memorandum said.

Council member Brad Groce said the loss prevention officer also suggested having a requirement for dogs to have proper vaccinations and tags before entering the park.

"But I think that someone who is going to bring their dog to the dog park has already taken care of that issue themselves," Groce said.

Council member Sheila Oliver said someone had asked her a question about the park regarding aggressive dogs, and how to handle them.

Fields said that the proper thing would be the call animal control or the police.

Honeycutt addressed animal feces and said that it would be the requirement of the pet owner to pick up after their pet. He also said at other dog park meetings, there has been discussion of "pick up days" during which members would go and clean up after the pets.

Council member Stacey Hammer said she was concerned that the park wouldn't continue to be funded and maintained by the Friends of Glasgow Dog Park Inc. in the future. Fields said that the memorandum states there is a review process of the agreement in the future. It also states "The City of Glasgow reserves the right to terminate this agreement at any time and/or terminate the use of the Off-Leash Dog Area."

Hammer also said she wanted the citizens of Glasgow to know that the city isn't going to be spending any money on the park.

"We have a vested interest in this," Fields said. "This is money that we have put sweat equity in to raise. We're not asking for the city to put up fencing, we're not asking for the city to provide benches, we're not asking for the city to provide anything. If they wanted to down the road, fine. If they saw it was really beneficial and being used, but it's like the playground equipment that the children play on. It's not used all the time, you know?"

Parks Department Director Eddie Furlong said one of his main concerns for the dog park was how to handle vandalism and damages caused by acts of nature.

"The Friends of Dog Park would work to get it fixed," Fields said.

Fields said the next step for the group would be to begin fund raising efforts in order to buy the things they need, such as fencing, which she said ranges anywhere from $18,000 to $20,000.

Honeycutt made a motion to bring the Memorandum of Understanding before the city council, and councilman Joe Trigg seconded the motion.

The next Friends of Glasgow Dog Park Inc. meeting will be Aug. 12, the day after the next city council meeting.

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