No decision reached on county animal control

Monday, December 2, 2013

With one commissioner out of town and unknown factors remaining about the fiscal burden of moving forward, the Putnam County Commissioners reached no decision on a proposed animal control ordinance.

The commissioners had agreed at their second November meeting to move forward in principle with an animal control plan, but questions linger about fee structures as well as the funding for a nearly $200,000 per year animal control operation.

Uncertainty coupled with the absence Monday of Commissioner Max Watts left the near-capacity crowd in the Commissioner's Courtroom to wait longer on a decision.

"This is not something we're going to rush into," Commissioner David Berry said, adding that nothing would be approved "until we're comfortable with it."

At the Nov. 18 meeting, there had been discussion of publishing a legal notice of the ordinance, a requirement before commissioners could vote on the measure.

However, no such notice has been placed in the Banner Graphic at this time.

"Right now there's nothing," County Attorney Jim Ensley told the audience. "If there's ever an ordinance, it'll be advertised and the public will have a chance to give input."

Monday's public turnout seems to indicate that input will come from multiple angles. While a number of supporters of the Humane Society of Putnam County were present in support of the ordinance, at least one resident present asked about the fee structure, seeming to disapprove of the proposed $20 per dog licensure fee.

Commissioner President Don Walton assured him that the figures remain tentative as the commissioners continue to gather input.

At the previous meeting, members of the county animal control advisory board encouraged the county to begin moving forward with a plan, as organizers Phil Gick and Lynn Bohmer will be leaving the board in the not-too-distant future.

One of these vacancies was addressed, as the commissioners appointed Lisa Mock of Heritage Lake, to replace Gick as their appointment to the board.

Approval of the ordinance would also include approving a partnership between the county and the Humane Society of Putnam County.

A working plan would lead to the reopening of the county's humane shelter and the hire of at least one devoted animal control officer.

Moving forward, there is no timetable for official consideration of an animal control ordinance.

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  • I like the pic of the dogs on this page. How did you get them to hold still for the pic?

    -- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Mon, Dec 2, 2013, at 11:25 PM
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