Rehoboth went through 8,000 dog poop bags in six months

Rehoboth Beach commissioners may not have an appetite to expand dog-related use of the beach and Boardwalk, but there are still a lot of dogs in the city that need to go to the bathroom somewhere. It appears two of the city’s parks work just fine.

At the recommendation of the city’s animal issues committee, the city installed five poop bag stations just before the start of the summer season – two at Grove Park and three along the walking path of Lake Gerar. According to Commissioner Tim Bennett, chair of the animal issues committee, the city has gone through more than 8,000 dog poop bags since June 1.

The bags cost about $60 per case, with the city estimating it would spend about $500 per year on purchasing the bags, said Bennett, during a commissioner meeting Dec. 15. The cost to install the stations was $750. The continued labor cost is minimal because the stations were placed next to existing trash cans.

The group also did a number of public service announcements related to leaving dogs in hot vehicles, completed an update to the city’s animal-related emergency contact list, encouraged the city to purchase a microchip reader for lost dogs and cats, and encouraged the installation of additional signage near Poodle Beach reminding people that dogs are not allowed on the beach during the summer months.

Bennett’s report was made in conjunction with commissioners considering a general overhaul of the committee structure.

In October, commissioners changed policy to remove nonresidents from advisory committees. Additionally, commissioners reconfirmed that committees have to get approval from commissioners to pursue specific topics.

The city has four additional advisory committees – streets and transportation, beach and Boardwalk, environment, and trees and green infrastructure.

Commissioner Francis “Bunky” Markert chairs the trees and green infrastructure committee. Over the years, he said, the committee has managed a number of programs that are continuous in nature – the city’s Arbor Day and tree donation programs, for example.

There’s a need to preserve and protect the city’s natural resources, and trees are part of that, he said. There’s a small group of dedicated individuals who are capable of continuing to provide that service, he said.

No reports were submitted by the city’s environment or streets and transportation committees. Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski is the chair of both.

The beach and Boardwalk committee has been without a chair since former Commissioner Jay Lagree decided not to run for re-election in August.

Commissioner Toni Sharp has suggested there be one committee that’s general in nature and made up of residents from the city’s distinct neighborhoods.

Commissioners are expected to resume discussions on reorganizing the committee structure during their next monthly workshop meeting Monday, Jan. 8.