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Resident says dog is kind, gentle
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: October 20, 2016

A Valley Center neighborhood has resigned itself to the fact that mail service in its three blocks has changed for good, the result, some in the neighborhood say, of a rush to judgment and a heavy handed reaction by the post office.

Tina Payne cautioned Valley Center City Council members Oct. 18, however, that what happened to the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of North Burns could happen to other areas of the city just as easily.

"This can be precedent setting," Payne said. "Valley Center is primarily a walking route mail delivery, and there are a lot of dogs."

The post office stopped carrier delivery to the neighborhood last month after a mailman was reportedly chased by a dog for the third time.

The post office required residents to install curbside mailboxes or have their mail delivered to a post office box or different address. Most residences had mailboxes on their homes, requiring the mailman to walk the route.

Payne, however, said the dog that allegedly acted aggressively toward the carrier is a harmless pet.

The city's animal control officer said the same thing two weeks ago.

"If this dog, who is kind and gentle, can be perceived as a threat, any dog can be seen as a threat," Payne said.

The post office said the dog chased the mail carrier after escaping a fenced backyard twice and after bolting from the front door of the house once.

Payne said her neighborhood's battle is over, but neighbors wanted to caution the city and other residents that the same thing could happen elsewhere.

Payne thanked Mayor Laurie Dove, council member Marci Maschino and Police Chief Mark Hephner for coming to the neighborhood's meeting last week.

"The main thing is, we felt heard and we felt respected, and that is not how we felt with the United States Postal Service," Payne said.

In other business Oct. 18, the council:

•Learned that city officials are researching options for employee health insurance after being notified of a 37.6 percent premium increase for 2017. The increase could cost the city about $120,000. The city is considering possible self-insured arrangements. Frank Miller, the city's animal control officer, said council members should consider the impact changes could have on employees, who already have endured declining coverage over the years. "The decline in the quality of health care coverage that is offered by the city has had a dramatic economic impact on the employees," Miller said. The council will consider options at a future meeting.

•Approved the purchase of a computer server for the Public Safety Building. The facility's server is out of storage space, brought on largely because of the storage of video recorded on police dash and body cameras. Cost of the server is $13,610, which council member Lou Cicirello said was a good price for the type of equipment the city was purchasing. Installation would be an additional $1,000 or $2,000, Kristine Polian, the city's finance director, said. "This is out of budget, but we certainly have money for it and we really have no choice," she said.

•Approved the appointment of the mayor and city council members as board members of the newly formed land bank.

•Approved the appointment of Dove to the library/Community Building design committee. Maschino voted against the appointment.

•Approved the reappointment of Ben Neaderhiser to the city's planning commission.

•Voted on an option for the mission statement for the city's strategic plan. The proposed plan will be discussed at a later meeting.

•Gave first-round approval to an ordinance that annexes 93rd North and Meridian.

•Approved the purchase of a gear box for part of the sewer plant's aeration basin at a cost of about $24,500.

•Got a first look at one proposal for a public safety study. Other proposals are being sought.

•Discussed a change to the 93rd Street paving project. The contractor wanted to gauge the council's feelings about whether paving work could be done overnight in an effort to stay on schedule. Some council members feared the work would be too loud for the residents along 93rd or it could disrupt access to driveways. The issue will be discussed further at the council's next meeting.





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