MCDONALD Council considers critter campaign

Village council passed a $4.1 million budget, which is about 9 percent higher than costs in 2000.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
McDONALD -- Raccoons beware. McDonald doesn't want you, and the village has enough surplus in the 2001 budget it passed Wednesday to mount a serious campaign against the pesky night raiders.
Village Administrator Robert O'Connell recommended hiring a trapper to nab the increasingly bold creatures in live traps on village property.
Several members of council supported O'Connell's proposal, but Solicitor William M. Roux said he is concerned about the legal implications if someone gets hurt.
Mixed feelings: Mayor James W. Border said he has mixed feelings about trapping the raccoons. He asked council to make sure all state regulations are followed.
Councilman Michael O'Brien said educating the public is the best way to get rid of the raccoons: Don't leave pet food outside, close garage doors and ask businesses to better control their trash bins.
Other councilmen, however, say full speed ahead with the trapping plan.
Councilman Thomas J. Hannon, who last year introduced a motion to spend up to $3,000 to eradicate raccoons, said he doesn't want to see village officials ignore the problem. "If we do, we'll just have more raccoons next year," he said.
Roux's misgivings led council to wait at least until its next meeting to decide what to do. In the meantime, more research will be done on the liability concerns and the effectiveness of live trapping.
Budget matters: Council approved a $4,112,796 appropriation budget for 2001, an increase of nearly 9 percent over actual spending in 2000.
Some of the larger line items include the general fund, $963,454, compared with $832,208 in 2000; and $348,500 for the street department compared with $293,435 last year, according to Clerk Wendy Kosovec. Some of the hefty increase was attributed to 4 percent pay increases for employees and expensive payouts to employees who retired.
She said estimated revenue for this year is $5,960,577, which includes $3,964,157 in new income and a $1,996,419 carryover from 2000. Actual revenue in 2000 was $3,917,067.
Contracts OK'd: In other action, council authorized the village to enter into a contract for:
* Buying new playground equipment for Woodland Park. The low bidder was David Williams & amp; Associates of Alliance, $34,164. Hannon said about 90 percent of the money for the playground equipment came from the sale of unneeded village-owned property.
* Trash collection for three years. Wolford's Refuse & amp; Recycling of McDonald submitted the low bid of $6.75 per month per unit for the first year; $7 for the second year, and $7.25 the third year.