Smiley discusses library status, animal ordinance

The Smiley City Council met early in the morning for its regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday, Dec. 20 in the Municipal Building.

The council discussed two major items: a library ordinance and an animal ordinance. Mayor Lisa Benavidez spoke about the Stella Ellis Hart Library briefly and the current state of leadership.

“I spoke to Ann Jackson and found out that she was an elected vice president for the library board. She is more than willing to take over the position as president for the library board, but she asked for us to wait until January, because she had a lot of other events going on at this time,” Mayor Lisa Benavidez said.

Librarian Sheri Matz resigned in November and, at the time, the library had to close briefly until someone could be found to help keep it open.

2023 Nixon-Smiley graduate Cecilia Villasana — the granddaughter of Mayor Pro Tem Ellis Villasana — is working part-time in the library for now from Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon so residents can have access to the library. Meanwhile, Benavidez said the city is accepting applications for a new librarian.

Benavidez asked the council to vote to have Jackson take over as president of the library board in January and also to table the library ordinance until the January 2024 meeting. The council approved both items by a 5-0 vote.

The council talked about the animal ordinance and the changes that were made regarding where the animals will go.

Smiley Marshal Jason Torres said the new ordinance is written for handling future calls and they will move problem animals to an animal pound or work with an outside agency.

“We’re trying to take care what we have now immediately and it’s trying to find the owners of the dogs,” Torres said, also indicating that if citations need to be issued to owners, he will cite them.

Councilwoman Lori Price brought up concerns about loose dogs that are not leashed and especially around the school and the elderly, she said.

The council approved the animal ordinance, 5-0.

In the other business, the council approved the following agenda items:

--approved the minutes from the November 2023 meeting

--approved the financial statements and unpaid bills

--approved purchase of qualification ammunition for Marshal’s Department.