During last week’s Parsons City Commission meeting, commissioners heard concerns about Parsons Pet Hospital.
Concerns were brought forth by Santana Johnson, who claimed that the vet clinic is not contacting residents whose animals are brought in by animal control in a timely manner. Johnson claimed the office would wait for a day or two to ensure that there would be incurred expenses for animal care before contacting owners to pick up a found animal.
Johnson said that recently her dog was picked up, and that the office confirmed they scanned the dog’s microchip, but she was not contacted. Johnson alleged that her dog was only at the vet’s office for a few hours, but said she was being charged for two days of care, totaling $166. Johnson said this was different from a quote she received by phone when she called the vet office to ask if her dog was there.
Santana said she believed these charges do not adhere to the city’s animal ordinances.
Police Chief Robert Spinks asked for Johnson’s statement in writing, so he could review Johnson’s concerns as well as review the existing contract with City Attorney Ross Albertini and Dr. Eva Dudek.
In the consent agenda, the city approved for Harry Hines Hospice to place a tree at The Gathering Place. A Lights of Life tree-lighting ceremony will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The tree will be left up until Jan. 2, 2026.
Curious Minds Discovery Zone was approved to use the shelter house and the parking lot of Marvel Park during the fifth annual Touch a Truck event on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A quiet hour will be held from 10-11 for those with sensory sensitivities. This comes with road closures and barricades for pedestrian safety. City vehicles will also be present for the event.
“This is a good event for the kids,” Commissioner Kevin Cruse said.
A payment to Wilson Associates for a raw water study and engineering agreement was approved, not to exceed $92,000. The original agreement was approved in May of this year.
Another payment of $150,000 was approved for work completed by 3D Homes Inc. This is in partnership with the Parsons Area Community Foundation, which will share the costs of a 3D printed home that will be built at the corner of 17th and Belmont. The proceeds of the sale will repay the funding costs.
A funding request for the Make My Move Program, a nationwide relocation program, has been decreased from $12,500 to $5,000 in economic development funds, due to subsidization.
A pay request to Burns and McDonnell in the amount of $2263.50 for professional services and engineering on the Main Street sidewalk replacement project was approved.
Two individuals were appointed to the Parsons Housing Authority: Andrea Hoisington and Jeff Downey.
In other public comments, a discussion surrounding vape shops near the middle school was had. A citizen asked if there were any ordinances to prevent vape shops from establishing themselves near schools. City Manager Jeff Cantrell noted that the location of such stores was protected by state statute, but that he has heard of other municipalities attempting to pass such an ordinance.
See CONCERNS on Page 3.
Spinks noted that as laws would change, products that claim to be similar to marijuana would quickly change in their makeup to remain legal, such as Delta-8 THC or THC-A. In general, Spinks said all types of vape products typically meet the restrictions of tobacco. He noted that in recent burglaries of vape shops, the suspects have all been juveniles.
“A lot of that stolen product was instantaneously in the schools,” Spinks said, which he said was quickly found and cleaned up.
The next Parsons City Commission meeting will be held on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. in the City Commission Room in the Parsons Municipal Building. Meetings are streamed to Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/parsonskansas.
