Supervisors has second consideration on vicious animal ordinance

VINTON — Benton County Supervisors discussed Ordinance No. 80, Animal Protection and Control, Tuesday, the second consideration.

The ordinance would repeal ordinance No. 37.

County Attorney Ray Lough addressed issues that came up during the first consideration of the ordinance the week before, including the huge burden placed on law enforcement and options that don’t require the destruction of the animal.

“I added a piece to the appeal hearing to essentially provide more protections for dog owners,” Lough said. “I also put in some language that protects property owners a little bit more than before, because obviously if your dog’s on your land and someone comes on when they shouldn’t be on your land, then I think that changes the picture.”

Lough said he first worked on the definition of what is at-large. He simplified the definition to make it more understandable. If the homeowner posts a sign that warns to not enter a property, and if one is bitten by a dog, it would not be the dog’s fault. If the dog attacks a domestic pet that has come onto the property, that domestic pet is not where it’s supposed to be.

Lough added the only three situations in which the sheriff has to pick up an animal is if the animal has been at-large three times in 30 days. Other situations are if there is a bite, and if the dog has no rabies certification on the collar.

Lough also talked about having an animal control officer and alternatives to destroying an animal. “This is a hard subject, and this is a statute ordinance we’re not going to get perfect. It’s just not doable.”

Work continues on regulating rabies. The only way to know if a dog has rabies is to put it down and check the brain, someone said.

The board also talked about vaccinations and quarantines, teasing and provoking dogs, private property rights, enforcement, protection, stray animals, animals that are dumped, shelters, microchips, insurance, breed-specific laws, signage and protection for delivery people.

The board will meet again for the third consideration in two weeks.

In other business, the board met with Rick Wood, Maintenance Director, for an employee evaluation and acknowledged the resignation of Paige Rambo, from the sheriff’s department.

The board discussed amending Resolution #13-11 Local Option Sales and Service Tax gifting. Clarification is needed on the use of the EMS Trust Fund in the purchase of new equipment, instead of using the LOSST fund. Auditor Hayley Rippel and Assistant County Attorney Derek Marsh will be working on this. Action was tabled.

The board discussed clarification on supervision of East Central Region Disability Access Point Employee Sarah Wagner. Benton County is in charge of wages and benefits.

Grace Schmidt gave an update on public health. The department is waiting to hear more on state and federal funding. Schmidt also said the state currently has seven confirmed cases of measles.

Local health departments have been well trained by Iowa Health and Human Services for this, Schmidt said. If there is a case of measles, the supervisors would hear from her department. They have protocols and procedures the county will follow.

Amy Van Welchel was appointed to the Civil Service Commission. She takes the place of Jennifer Zahradnik, who resigned.