Hearing for proposed animal ordinance will be May 12

A public hearing prior to the May 12 meeting of the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners will give county residents an opportunity to comment on the proposed animal ordinance. People are invited to come to the hearing with their questions, concerns, and comments regarding the ordinance, which has been discussed since late last year when the commissioners started putting together the budget for 2004. Treasurer Pat Cornett and sheriff Terry Flewelling were asked by the board to look at what other counties were using as their animal enforcement policy and to put one together which would best suit Presque Isle County.

AMONG THE reasons the ordinance was proposed was to respond to several complaints of barking dogs and dogs bites. In one incident, a woman was attacked south of Onaway by two dogs as she walked by herself down a rural road. The hearing will allow much more time for input, compared to the ?citizens appearing before the board? time at the board meetings. ?This way they can discuss it more openly and expect to get their questions answered,? said Cornett. ?They don?t necessarily get a response if they speak just before the board.? The hearing is to get the feelings of the public, ?so if they have concerns that in some way were not addressed in the policy,? said Cornett, ?or if there are things that they don?t understand in the policy that we?ve put together, that they can ask questions.? Cornett said she has been receiving feedback regarding the cost of a license.

?PEOPLE WANT us to consider different rates than what we have suggested,? said Cornett. The proposed fees are $10 per dog with a delinquent charge of $20. The senior rate would be $

8 per dog, if the proposal is accepted as is, and $15 for seniors who don?t get their money in on time. Cornett said some residents have asked that a break be given to people who have neutered their dogs. ?It?s a good thought to consider because you are always worrying about the animal population,? she said. What?s stated in the proposed ordinance may not be what is adopted by the commissioners. Cornett said there?s some concern that the ordinance may exceed the requirements of the of the state animal ordinance. That may be addressed as well. ?They (commissioners) can add or delete, or whatever,? said Cornett.

ANYONE WITH a specific question who can?t attend the hearing, and wants to have their question addressed, may call the treasurer?s office. Copies of the ordinance are available at the clerk?s and treasurer?s office, as well as the sheriff?s department. In the coming months, Dr. Jay Schuiteman, local veterinarian, will be working in conjunction with the county to conduct clinics in Onaway, Posen, and the Presque Isle area in mid-June. He?ll be discussing vaccinations and licensing of animals.