To combat the spread of rabies, the Lampasas City Council last week voted to require all animals held in the Lampasas Animal Shelter to be vaccinated.

No animal will be released from the shelter until a veterinarian administers a rabies shot or until the animal’s owner provides proof of a current rabies vaccination.

The vaccination requirement will apply for the next six months, which the council voted unanimously to designate as a time of elevated rabies risk. Officials have received confirmation of three rabid animals in the county this year, with two of the animals being discovered within about the last three weeks.

Neighboring counties also have experienced a higher than normal number of rabies cases recently, Police Chief Tim Angermann said.

“It’s not just Lampasas alone, but we need to step up our efforts to protect the citizens,” Angermann said.

Puppies and kittens at the animal shelter may be adopted or returned to their owners without rabies vaccinations if they are too young to receive shots, City Manager Michael Stoldt said. Owners will be required to show shelter staff proof of their pets’ rabies shots, however, by the time the animals reach 16 weeks, Stoldt said.

Once pet owners are notified, they will be charged one day’s boarding fee even if their animal must be housed for several days at the Lampasas shelter while waiting for a veterinarian to give a rabies shot.

The animal shelter charges the same rates for vaccinations as veterinarians do, Stoldt said, because city officials do not want to take business away from veterinarians by offering lower prices.

Also at the recent meeting, the City Council voted 7-0 to prohibit parking in both the northbound and southbound U.S. Highway 281 right of way from the north end of the bridge over Sulphur Creek to the city limits just south of Grace Fellowship. The Texas Department of Transportation will install warning signs soon, Angermann said.

In another item, Stoldt mentioned citywide water conservation plans, which were mandatory for part of last week but have been changed to voluntary.

City officials are encouraging Lampasans to water their yards and use irrigation systems only between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. Residences with odd-numbered addresses are asked to water or irrigate only on odd calendar days, and those with even addresses are asked to water on even-numbered days.

In addition, officials ask Lampasans to avoid washing commercial establishments, residential driveways and parking areas. Residents are asked to fill or refill pools, hot tubs, wading pools and similar items on the odd/even calendar days that correspond to address numbers.

In other business, the City Council unanimously approved changes to an agreement with BNSF Railway for a real estate donation adjacent to Rex and Linda Johnson Park. The changes BNSF requested did not alter the original intent of the land donation agreement, said Assistant City Manager Stacy Brack, who has been working with the railway company for about two years to secure the gift of land near the city park.

A rails-to-trails program may provide for exercise paths at Rex and Linda Johnson Park, to be located off Hackberry Street, Mrs. Brack said.

Also at the recent meeting, the council authorized Mayor Judy Hetherly to sign a contract with TxDOT for highway lighting along Key Avenue. TxDOT will install the lights as part of its rebuilding effort that will include drainage improvements, sidewalks and handicapped accessibility features.

Although TxDOT will pay to install street lights, the city will be responsible for maintenance costs.