The Jefferson city council at its July 27 meeting approved the third reading of an ordinance adding language about feral cat colonies to the city’s animal protection and control ordinance. The new language requires residents who feed colonies of feral cats to register with the city, to provide for the cats’ medical needs, and to use any trap-neuter-return programs available for the cats.
While cats were the topic of much of the animal control discussion in recent months, council members heard an emotional plea to stiffen penalties for vicious dogs during the open forum portion of the meeting.
Mary Ganoe-Danielson was prepared with enlarged photos of her Yorkie Sinbad. The dog was killed by a pair of unrestrained dogs as she walked with him earlier in the month. She said she screamed for help, but the dogs’ owner, who was nearby, didn’t respond until after Sinbad had been killed. She blamed the owner. “The animals may have done it, but the owner, in the end did it, because it’s his responsibility to keep his animals from doing that to anybody or anything. They’re his animals,” Ganoe-Danielson said.
The owner was charged with allowing a total of six dogs to run at large. He was given a choice of having the two dogs euthanized or relocated outside Jefferson. “I didn’t get choices in my life. My life is forever changed (by this).”
Ganoe-Danielson said the dogs had attacked previously. She said she’d like the city council to again review the animal control ordinance to change the limit on the number of dogs in a household and to put in harsher penalties for vicious dogs. She’d also like to see owners sentenced to jail time “to sit and think about what happened to others because of his not obeying the law.”
City administrator Mike Palmer and mayor pro tem Pat Zmolek said the council’s police committee would discuss the issue.
The council approved the third reading of an ordinance amending the city’s Animal Protection and Control ordinance. The ordinance requires caretakers of colonies of feral cats to register with the city, to provide for the medical needs of cats in the colony, and assist with trap-neuter-return programs for the cats.
The council approved the third reading of an ordinance amending the building code pertaining to terraces, decks and patios. The council also approved the third reading of an ordinance that discontinues minimum charges for water service to vacant properties, and provides for temporary water service and charges that tend to occur during construction.
An ordinance goes into effect after it is approved at three readings and in then published.
The council held a public hearing on the sale of property at 703 N. Wilson Ave. No one spoke. The council then approved the sale of the property to James Ford for $2,500.
The council approved a 28E agreement with Greene County for the joint operation and maintenance of the Greene County Law Enforcement Center. The agreement was tabled at the council’s July 13 meeting to give time to “clean up some things.” Of concern was outlining responsibility for things like mowing and snow removal. City attorney David Morain said he and county attorney Thomas Laehn have “a great working relationship.”
The county supervisors approved the 28E agreement at their July 12 meeting.
The council accepted an offer of a $13,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for expenses related to the Coronavirus pandemic. Eligible expenses included cleaning, sanitation, operations, personnel, and general services. The grant funds will be used over the next four years.
The council approved the plat of survey for the new Greene County Early Learning Center.
Greene County Development Corporation director Ken Paxton gave his quarterly report. He told the council he’s working with a potential buyer for a lot in the east business park. The buyer is interested in putting in a meat market and a federally licensed small butchering operation (one animal per day).
Paxton also reported Nate Adams has submitted the last of his funding applications for the repurposing of the former middle school to apartments. He will learn the outcome of those applications in late October, and hopes to begin construction on the project in the spring of 2022.
