Carol King recently felt bullied but, rather than take legal steps, the woman with a service dog is trying to educate others about the ADA's laws and regulations.
King brought her service dog, Rayah, to the Goodman City Council meeting Tuesday night and addressed aldermen during the citizens' business portion of the gathering.
King said she recently attended her grandson's ballgame at the Goodman ballpark with Rayah but felt "bullied" by a staff person who told her she would have to leave with her dog.
The representative on hand -- though she wasn't sure if he was an employee or volunteer -- told her that dogs were not allowed at the ballpark. Though King said she tried to explain that Rayah is a service dog, she was told she couldn't stay with the dog.
"What I went through ... the guy was rude," she said.
King shared information about the ADA's rules and regulations and what modifications some entities are required to make for service animals.
She said her service dog is for mobility assistance and stressed that service animals are not "pets."
King said she isn't the suing type but would rather educate neighbors about the regulations in place that protect those in need of service animals.
Mayor Greg Richmond apologized to King for a situation in which she felt bullied. He thanked her for sharing information with the council and those in attendance.
In other business, aldermen voted to allow Clark Hughes to place a double-wide at 303 S. Ozark Trail. The new 1,568 sq. ft. mobile home will be placed on the property there.
In other business the aldermen also:
• Approved a sealed bid for $400 for a 1996 Ford, which the city has advertised for two months through Facebook, newspaper ads, and the city's website. Alderman Calvin Wilson abstained; his wife, Deborah, placed the bid.
• Discussed the possibility of a new sign at the ballpark. The former sign was damaged in the tornado last year.
• Approved $27,920.38 in bills and transfers.
The council will host a closed meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, at city hall, pursuant to RSMO, Section 610.021, Section (2), regarding the leasing, purchase or sale of real estate by a public governmental body where public knowledge of the transaction might adversely affect the legal consideration thereof.
General News on 06/07/2018