MEIGS — Updates on three hot topic issues were heard Monday by the Meigs City Council. 

The first was an update on the city’s stray dog and cat problem. 

Meigs Mayor Cheryl Walters said dog owners will be given a warning on first offense and a written citation, according to the city’s leash ordinance, on the second offense. 

“It is a problem in our community, and I know people are annoyed with dogs attacking trash (cans),” she said. “It is an important issue.” 

Walters noted the stray dogs, along with pilfering trash cans, chase cars and frighten people on the street. 

“So, that’s why we’re trying to address this problem,” she said. 

Walters also noted in the event of a stray animal, Thomas County Animal Control would have to be notified to pick up the animal. 

The council previously voted to provide copies of Meigs’ leash law at various city locations.

The deteriorating buildings in downtown Meigs also were addressed. 

“We’re moving along,” said city attorney Tom Lehman, who is determining building code violations with Thomas County Building Inspection Department. 

Lehman added seven buildings have been checked by the building inspection department. 

The deteriorating buildings are an integral part of the original downtown Meigs, Walters said. 

“We’re trying to preserve the streetscape of Meigs,” she said. 

The last update was on the lack of an influent screen for the city’s waste water ponds.  

The City of Meigs previously purchased a screen for $50,000, but it does not work with Meigs’ waste water ponds. 

Walters said the lowest bid the city received for a new screen totaled $112,000, adding she put in a request to a civil engineer in Thomasville to work on a new design. 

City officials did not take action toward the influent screen. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.