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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
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Cat Ordinance Debated |
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Tuesday, 27 October 2009 |
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — City Councilors Monday night held the first reading of an ordinance addressing cats — feral and domestic.
The issue surfaced during the Oct. 12 council meeting and again at a safety committee meeting the next week. Following the Oct. 12 meeting, councilors asked City Law Director Kraig Noble to draft a measure regarding the trapping of cats and the process that follows. The measure was debated and Noble provided the ordinance Monday to councilors for a vote.
According to the ordinance, no person who owns a cat can let it run at-large. Residents can apply for an identification tag for a one-time fee not to exceed $10.
The ordinance also prohibits the trapping of cats unless a person applies for a permit to live trap the animals. If a person, who has obtained the proper permit, traps a cat and it can be identified, it must be brought to a holding agent as designated by the safety-service director. The cat's owner can retrieve the animal from the agent by paying a fee not to exceed $50.
If a cat cannot be identified, it may be brought to the agent — who can then destroy the animal in a humane manner. Anyone who is found to have trapped a cat without a permit would be guilty of committing a minor misdemeanor. A minor misdemeanor is punishable by maximum fine of $100.
Council President Dan Hoelscher said the permitting process and any other details would be handled by Safety-Service Director Tom Hitchcock. Hoelscher said only traps provided by the city can be used to live trap the animals.
Sue Zink, with Sue's Animal Rescue Team (SART), has previously said she would be willing to act as the holding agent in the event a domestic cat is caught in a live trap. Zink said she is against the euthanasia stipulation and plans to medically treat the animals, sterilize them and, if possible, adopt the cats out into homes.
"That would totally be your call," Hoelscher said.
Hoelscher fielded a question from a resident comparing the dog tag fees to the proposed cat tag fees. Hoelscher said the fee of the city-provided collars would cover its cost.
"We are not looking to raise any money with this," Hoelscher said. "We're just covering the cost of the collar."
Noble added that dog tags and such laws are governed by other entities.
"The county has primary responsibility for dogs," Noble said. "There is no state law or county regulation on cats. This is something we are dealing with solely, if council adopts it, just in St. Marys."
Judy Weng, who initially brought the issue to council, asked for a way to notify owners if a cat is trapped before it is trapped. Hoelscher said neighbors should talk to each other about any issues and that the city could not be responsible for policing personal disputes.
"The city cannot be involved in taking care of all local disputes," Hoelscher said. "If they complain and call the police they will probably go down and see them."
Councilor-at-Large Jim Harris said he has received "a lot of calls over the years" regarding cats. Harris said it is often difficult to determine if a cat is domestic, feral or stray.
"They just want something done with the cats," Harris said. "That has been a recurring problem. There are a lot of communities that are adopting cats running-at-large and leash laws and it's being driven by health departments."
Zink said the issue is one that cannot be solved overnight. Instead, Zink stressed cooperation among the city's residents to help curb the feral and stray cat population.
"It's going to have to be something where everything is in place," Zink said. "It's going to have to be very regulated so that we can handle the volume."
In the event stray and feral cats are trapped, Zink has said she would prefer to sterilize the animals and then release them into their environment. Doing so, Zink said, would help curb the population as new animals would not be able to be born.
"It's going to be an educated, thought-out process," Zink said. "I think if things go and we all work together, I just think what an amazing thing, we can be as a model for other towns. It is a solvable problem."
Dennis Vossler, the 2nd Ward Councilor, said the discussion was "a good thing." Vossler said discussing issues helps the community by spreading awareness.
"I also think it's a good thing because as I see it, it's important to be a good neighbor," Vossler said. "I think when you have a pet, you have to be a good neighbor and I think that's all about being responsible."
Weng also questioned if the legislation could address abandoning animals. The measure will be back for its second reading at the next council meeting.
During the meeting, Bob Valentine questioned if the safety committee meeting was a violation of the Ohio Sunshine Laws. Valentine claimed that since several city councilors, who are not on the safety committee attended, the meeting should have been labeled a council meeting.
Noble said, in his legal opinion, the meeting was not a violation of the Sunshine Laws. Noble said the only people who voted were the committee members and the councilors and members of the public were free to engage in the public discussion. The meeting, Noble said, also was labeled a safety committee meeting.
"They are the only ones who had a privilege to vote," Noble said of the committee members. "It was a regularly scheduled meeting of the safety committee.
Hoelscher told Valentine if he believes a violation occurred, he should contact the county prosecuting attorney's office.
Councilors entered executive session to discuss personnel pertaining to the resignation of Council Clerk Betty Wehrman. No action was taken when councilors reconvened in regular session. Hoelscher said Wehrman resigned before Monday's meeting and that her seat would be filled on a temporary basis until January — when councilors will appoint a clerk for 2010. Hoelscher said anyone interested in filling the position can apply at the city building.
In other business, councilors:
• Heard from representatives from the post office regarding the possible closure of a processing plant in Lima. If closed, delays could occur as mail sent in the "458" area code would have to make a trip to Toledo before it could be delivered.
• Approved an emergency ordinance related to a supplemental to the budget regarding checks the city has sent to residents that have not been cashed. Hoelscher said the move is a bookkeeping measure to clean up the funds per the state auditor's request.
• Approved the first reading of a resolution approving the Auglaize County Solid Waste Management Plan Update.
The next meeting of the St. Marys City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at the city building located along East Spring Street. A public hearing related to an annexation request will take place at 6:45 p.m. before the meeting.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 December 2009 )
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