Glitch found in Redkey animal law (06/16/06)

REDKEY — Animal control efforts here have experienced a setback.

At a special meeting earlier this month council members announced they were going to start enforcing the town’s animal control ordinance more strictly to cut down on stray dog and cat problems.

But council members learned Thursday that enforcement can’t begin until an ordinance passed four years ago is published in The Commercial Review.

Clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby and town attorney John Brooke pointed out the glitch in the enforcement efforts.

Although Redkey council members voted to approve a new five-page animal control ordinance in June 2002, replacing the community’s previous regulations which were set in 1972, the 2002 ordinance was never published as a legal notice in a local newspaper after its passage, as required by law. Consequently, although approved roughly four years ago, legally the ordinance never took effect, Brooke and Kirby said.

Steve Reynolds was the town council president at the time, and Brenda Adkins was clerk-treasurer. Adkins resigned from the clerk-treasurer’s post late last year while the Indiana State Board of Accounts was conducting an audit of town financial records and bookkeeping practices.

Meanwhile Town Council president Dottie Quakenbush said that she is continuing to receive complaints about stray dogs and cats in town. She said that even though it was four years late, the 2002 ordinance will be published as a legal ad in The Commercial Review so it can finally take effect.

Earlier this month, Quakenbush said registration fees for dogs and cats were going to be collected at rates of $3 for a cat, and $5 for one dog plus $2 for each additional dog in a household.

Brooke added that state laws about dog registration fees and tags are scheduled to change on July 1, so more revisions in local animal control regulations may be needed in a few weeks, too.

In other action Thursday night Redkey council members:

•Heard a report from Fire Chief Randy Young that he was still seeking cost estimates on repair work needed for the department’s tanker truck, which has major rust problems. Brooke suggested that options for grant money should be investigated.

Also Young reported that the fire department volunteers were sponsoring a truck and tractor pull at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, on the south edge of Redkey, along Ind. 1.

Young added that the town’s annual Independence Day fireworks display is set for Saturday, July 1 in Redkey’s Mooney Park. Also the Carl Storie Band is scheduled to entertain, following a day of baseball and softball games at the park.

•Instructed Brooke to contact Jay County officials about ways to implement zoning codes for the community. Town officials said that they have had trouble finding local people who were willing to serve as members of either a Redkey Plan Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals, and consequently the idea of adopting Jay County regulations and procedures is being considered again.

•Heard a financial report from Kirby showing that the town had received an advance draw on property tax revenues and the current overall account balance was $180,775. “We’re not out of the woods yet, but we’re doing much better,” Brooke said after hearing Kirby’s report.

•Approved the vacation of a 10-foot wide alley between two pieces of property owned by Debra M. Lane on North Meridian Street. The plat for the alley dates back to 1890, but it was never used for that purpose, Brooke said. There were no objections raised to the petition.

•Passed the first of two required readings for an ordinance concerning the enforcement of provisions against unsafe buildings; as well as requirements prohibiting persons from carrying firearms in the town park.

•Received copies of a 31-page proposal establishing rules and regulations for the Redkey police department, setting forth procedures for full-time police officers and reserves to follow. Brooke asked that council members read through the proposal so that it can be discussed at a future meeting, and adopted later.[[In-content Ad]]