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Feedback collected on animal ordinance
One dozen Jasper residents turned out for the Jasper City Council meeting to voice their opinion and concerns, Dec. 10, during a public hearing on a proposed city animal ordinance.
The city is considering an animal ordinance because the city’s existing animal ordinance is unenforceable, said Mayor Les Nath, at the outset of the meeting.
The city received sample ordinances from the League of Minnesota Cities. The current draft was modeled after an ordinance adopted by the City of Arlington, population 2,000. Feedback on the draft was received from both the city attorney and Pipestone County Sheriff Dan Delaney.
The draft ordinance limits household pets to three: either two dogs and one cat or two cats and one dog. This designation of the number and species of pets was the main concern of those who attended the hearing.
“I have four dogs and as far as I know there hasn’t been a complaint,” said Angie Jones, an 11-year resident. “I maintain my dogs, I get their shots and have never had a complaint that has been brought to my attention by a neighbor or the city.”
Several other residents voiced concern about the wording of the ordinance in that it specifies what species of pet a household can have.
Council members agreed the wording should be changed. The limit of three household pets will stay the same, but the ordinance will be reworded to say three dogs, three cats or some combination of the species.
The section of the ordinance that indicates dogs must be kept to the rear of the house also caused concern. Nath explained that the city has had some complaints of dogs tied in the front and kids walking down the sidewalk and the dog lunging at them. What if the chain would break?
“Unfortunately that is what is happening: A few ruining it for the rest of us,” said Glenn Bolkema, councilor.
According to Nath, this doesn’t mean a dog can’t be temporarily tied up in the front yard. One resident pointed out that the way it is written now, it doesn’t say that and it needs to be reworded.
“We were made aware of this before the meeting and we are working on it,” Bolkema said.
Resident Chuck Hummel said the ordinance needs to take into consideration people who don’t have backyards because they live on a corner lot with a side and front yard.
Sherry Wurtz wanted to know if the $20 special permit owners would have to buy for each pet over the limit of three was an annual fee or a one-time charge.
Former Jasper Mayor David Smith said that in his experience a conditional use permit is a one-time charge. He also suggested to the council that they change the name of the permit to something other than conditional use permit.
The council said before closing the public hearing that it would use the comments to refine the ordinance and would then bring it back for another public hearing.
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