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Session 1307, Minutes Page 3 May 19, 1982 said that a number of air pats and radios were bcught in the last few years; there- fore only three spare cylinders and two new radios are needed for 1982-83. Concerning sewer bills, Mr. Ollendorff said the Municipal Code sets the interest rate on them at 8% per annum. He said the Charter stated that any assessment may be paid off in up to ten years. Mayor Mooney asked what amount was now outstanding in terms of legitimate and delinquent tax bills owed to the City. Mr. Ollendorff said he would find out. He noted that the City needed to find some other way to handle sewer assessments, since it requires quite a large amount of current cash. He said the City Attorney was now researching this matter, but felt it would prob- ably take a change in state law before the interest rate on sewer bills could be changed. Gay Avenue was discussed again, with the City Manager circulating a report written by Allen Dieckgraefe, Director of Public Works. It was noted that additional work was being done on Gay, after a largely unsuccessful attempt earlier in the spring to correct some of its problems. Mr. Ollendorff said the 7400 block of Pershing had also been in poor condition and was presently being repaired. In regard to the one-man refuse trucks which have been seen with two workers, Mr. Ollendorff said that about 20% of the time an extra person will be put on a one- man truck if there are particularly large amounts of refuse to be collected. He I said if all the workers show up, there are normally two backup people who can be put on as extras where needed. He said the two supervisors also go out on the routes if they are needed, and sometimes temporary help is hired or overtime is paid if necessary. The next response concerned animal control activities, and a report was circulated on this matter, also. Mrs. Thompson and several other councilmembers emphasized how very important this service was to a large number of residents. Mr. Ollendorff said the City will get a new animal control truck during the summer which should provide full-time patrol, which was impossible with the old truck since it was out of ser- vice much of the time. There was extensive discussion on animal control activities, and several councilmembers suggested increasing the budget if it was thought that would help get stray animals off the street. It was agreed that councilmembers will formulate in writing ideas as to how this problem might be addressed, and discuss them at a future Council meeting. Mro Lieberman asked for the figures that Univer- sity City citizens pay through their taxes to the St. Louis County Health Department (which furnishes 16-20 hours of animal control per week to University City). He thought perhaps some political action should be taken so that University City re- ceives in services the amount it pays to the County. Mr. Ollendorff said he would also furnish a report covering the conditions under which the animal control workers will go onto private property in order to pick up stray dogs. The last matter had to do with public relations, and Mr.-Ollendorff said that he and School Superintendent Doughty intended to recommend that the School District and the City combine the two newspapers which each has been publishing separately. He said a better product would be provided for less money, and that the savings could be used to upgrade the public relations program. Mayor Mooney asked the Council to provide Mr. Ollendorff with their comments or suggestions for improvements in this area. Mro Ollendorff said that the issue of whether or not advertising would be ac- cepted in the Community News would be on the agenda at the May 24 Council meeting.