CHARLESTON -- Dogs and beavers beware!
During their regular meeting Thursday, Mississippi County commissioners discussed problems the two species are causing in the county among other business.
A beaver dam in a pipe in Maple Slough at County Highway 404 is restricting the drainage system's flow, according to commissioners.
Homer Oliver, commissioner, said he will try to contact a beaver trapper.
Commissioners agreed to direct Richard Wallace, county road and bridge superintendent, to shoot the beavers there if a trapper is not available.
Martin Lucas, commissioner, said shooting the beavers is legal as they are considered a nuisance.
Nevertheless, Jim Blumenberg, presiding commissioner, said he preferred to abstain from the decision to shoot the beavers.
In another discussion, Blumenberg said a meter reader for the county's rural water district was bitten by a dog in the Big Book area.
"We know who owns the dog," Blumenberg said.
He suggested they advise the dog's owner that if he doesn't want to take care of the dog, the sheriff may be asked to shoot it.
Blumenberg said in addition to biting the rural water district official, the dog has reportedly killed another dog so he is concerned it may end up biting a child.
Dogs may be something else the county code enforcement officer, once hired, may be tasked with addressing, he suggested.
"I'm getting calls about dogs every day," Blumenberg said.
In other Mississippi County business Thursday:
* The contract for the administration of a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant for the second phase of the county's rural water supply district was awarded to the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission at Dexter.
Joe E. Lane, director of community planning for the BRPC, said the water district has had 155 new hookups so far since the second phase began.
"I expect that to increase," he said. "Once under construction, we always experience more people hooking up."
Customers of the water district have reportedly been pleased to have hooked up.
"I haven't heard any complaints," Lane said.
* A new windsock has been put up at the county airport, according to Blumenberg, but the beacon is still not working.
The bulb in the beacon was changed but the beacon is still not rotating, he said.
The beacon and windsock were two of the items listed as needing attention in a recent inspection report for the airport.
* Commissioners agreed to distribute hams to county employees for Christmas once again this year.