Roaming dogs discussed by Dunkirk

DUNKIRK — Curbing the problem of stray dogs roaming the city, threatening and bothering residents proved to be a hot topic at Monday night’s council session.
Council members directed Police Chief Dane Mumbower and councilman Eric Bowler to look into the possibility of purchasing a tranquilizer gun and training police officers how to use it in emergency situations.
Bowler said that he and the city dog catcher, Alan Brown, have learned through experience that some dogs are nearly impossible to catch with the snare device currently being used. Bowler said that some of the dogs have become vicious.
“Why don’t you tranquilize the stray dogs?” Dunkirk resident Shirley Patterson asked at the beginning of Monday’s meeting. She said the dog catcher has tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to catch one particular stray dog in her neighborhood.
Bowler was not present while Patterson was speaking, but he arrived at the meeting later, saying Brown did nab that dog on one occasion, but it later jumped out of the city’s animal control truck and escaped.
Hunt and Bowler explained that prior to using a tranquilizer gun, police officers must be trained and pass certification tests to use it.
Patterson also complained that pedestrians who walk down city sidewalks are routinely bothered by dogs.
Later in the meeting, Bowler said that he knew of one case where a large dog was on a chain in its yard but the chain was so long that the dog could easily reach the sidewalk in front of the house.
Patterson also asked if there was a limit on how many dogs a resident could own. She said she knew of one instance where the home owner was keeping six adult dogs as well as several puppies.
Council member Judy Garr said there was a line between having a few pets and having a kennel. She said city officials should clarify that issue.
Also discussed Monday was unauthorized access to the pound when city officials are not present. Bowler said on at least three occasions, dogs have been set free without authorization.
He and Hunt agreed that steps should be taken to prevent this or at least make it harder to do.
Bowler proposed increasing the amount of the fines for allowing a dog to run loose. Currently, the fine for a first offense is $15. Garr asked him to make recommendations for discussion at a future council meeting.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, council members:
•Received a proposed contractual agreement from the Jay County Regional Sewer District regarding two sewer district projects near Dunkirk. The projects are being done for the Skeens Addition and the Arlington Avenue-Willow Drive area. Council members took the proposed contract under agreement. The county sewer district is attempting to reach an agreement with Dunkirk and Portland to accept waste from residents outside the city limits.
•Approved the appointments of five Dunkirk residents to serve on the newly formed Dunkirk Redevelopment Commission. Tony Franklin, Aaron Walters and Jack Robbins were appointed by mayor Ron Hunt. The two council appointments were Chuck Rife and Craig Faulkner.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley said he would set up a meeting of the five-member group soon.
•Agreed with a recommendation from the West Jay Community Center Board to have city resident Barbara Ireland serve on that board.
•Set Halloween trick-or-treat hours for 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 30. Council members pointed out that Oct. 30 is a Saturday, and Oct. 31 falls on a Sunday this year.
•Decided to strictly follow Indiana State Board of Accounts guidelines, as recommended in a recent audit report, on several points including water billing adjustments and procedures for refunds on water bill meter deposits. Council members informed clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler that these policy changes should take effect immediately.
•Approved paying $1,000, amounting to half the cost for pavement work on the VFW parking lot property that the city owns.
Council members said VFW Post 8071 will pay the remaining half. The work was done by American Asphalt Co., Muncie.
•Learned that the city would soon need to hire a new park caretaker, as the current caretaker, Steve Curts is expected to resign for health reasons. Council members approved a motion to give Curts 30 days to move out of the city park caretaker’s house in Dunkirk City Park.[[In-content Ad]]