(KAIR)--Dog at large penalties increase in the City of Atchison following action of the Atchison City Commission Monday.

Prior to the unanimous vote approving the change, Vice-Mayor Allen Reavis said along with the financial increase, better enforcement is necessary. “I think we have a really big enforcement problem with this,” Reavis said, adding, “I have no problem raising the fees, but if we’re not enforcing it, we can make the fee $1 million and it doesn’t really matter.”

With the Commission’s approval now granted, fines will increase from $25 to $50 for the first offense, from $50 to $100 for the second offense, and from $100 to $200 for a third and subsequent offense. According to a release from the City, the fines are on top of actual boarding fees if a dog at large is picked up and boarded by animal control.

Commissioners Monday also approved some employee reclassifications, made necessary due to what the City’s release calls “organizational changes brought on by changes in staff.”

The release notes that Utilities Manager Mike Stec’s last day of employment was May 14, and rather than try to fill that position, the city has done some shifting of responsibilities in the public works and utilities departments. Existing department head Clinton McNemee is adding Utilities to his responsibilities and will now be the Public Works and Utilities Director. Seth Howard will move from Project Manager to a newly created Assistant Public Works Director to assist McNemee in supervisorial responsibilities. The Public Works Project Manager position will be unfilled.

Other organizational changes include promoting Water Plant Superintendent Jim Owens to Water and Wastewater Plant Manager. The Wastewater Treatment Superintendent position, which had been vacant for more than a month, was eliminated. An Administrative Services Project Manager position was created, in the place of the Community Development Office Manager position that had been vacant for almost a year. Also, a Solid Waste Operator position was changed to Solid Waste Lead Operator and a Fleet Maintenance Mechanic position was changed to Fleet Superintendent. J.W. Stewart was promoted from Solid Waste Operator to the new Solid Waste Lead Operator role and Rod Aversman was promoted from Fleet Maintenance Mechanic to Fleet Superintendent.