Colbert adopts county animal control ordinance

Davis died after being attacked by a neighbor’s goat.

“It was reported in the paper that we would not allow animal control from the county, inside the city limits,” said Mayor Chris Peck. “So to address that problem I want to adopt an intergovernmental agreement to take care of this type of thing in the future.”

City attorney Dale Perry informed the council about the differences between the two ordinances.

“Several years ago we adopted a dangerous dog ordinance that was required by state law, and we also have a livestock ordinance,” said Perry. “And the ordinance the county adopted in 2005 controls dogs and cats, but it still doesn’t control things like goats and bulls. In the statute itself, the definition of an animal is just any and all types of cats and dogs.”

Perry then described the process by which it must be adopted.

“In order to adopt this, the county requires that we have an ordinance that mirrors theirs,” said Perry. “So what I’ve done is create an ordinance stating that we will just adopt their ordinance.”

Councilman Roger Fortson questioned the types of animals being covered.

“How does livestock fall into that?” he asked.

Perry attempted to clarify the confusion.

“It doesn’t at all,” he said. “We’ll still just have to rely on our city ordinance covering livestock, and any issues we have with something like a goat would fall into that.”

Mayor Peck, then informed the council of his own reasoning towards the matter.

“What I’m trying to do right here is get us in the same pile as everyone else, as far as animal control is concerned,” he said. “That way there’s no more gray area for the city of Colbert.”

Perry gave his final thoughts on the issue.

“The county animal enforcement office said that this wouldn’t have made any difference in this particular situation, because their ordinance doesn’t specifically cover goats,” said Perry. “But we’re pretty much just giving the county’s animal enforcement the ability to take charge of events like this one in the future, and saying that we’re going to stay out of their way.”

OTHER BUSINESS

In other matters, the plan to build a sidewalk on 2nd Avenue has been cancelled.

The old school is scheduled to receive a new roof after its council unanimously decided on Tom Jackson’s bid of $15,668 for the job.

A bid from Seagraves Electrical Contractors to improve the electrical wiring of the old fire hall was unanimously accepted at the price of $4,000.

The removing of trees at the corner of the depot and by the old school has been completed, but the city may need to put out a bid for someone to grind down the remaining stumps.

Members of the council will soon be meeting with a hydrologist to get an idea of the best possible locations to dig a new city well.
Colbert decided to join other municipalities and unanimously decided to get on board with a proposed sewerage project that is planned along Hwy. 72.

The city has agreed to submit an application for the Gateway Grant, as well as re-apply a third time for the TE Grant which, if received, will refurbish and revitalize the condition of the depot. Also, with the recent resignation of the city’s election superintendent and early voting dates approaching within the next couple of months, probate judge Cody Cross has agreed to assist the city as election superintendent until the end of the year.

“I think this is a good deal for us, and it really gets us out of a bind,” said Perry.