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County weighs dog ordinance repeal CROW WING COUNTY BOARD Senior Reporter Barking up a different tree may generate public reaction, at least that was part of the discussion Tuesday as the Crow Wing County Board considered repealing its dog ordinance.
An issue of contention for years, the dog ordinance is a patchwork enforcement effort. Dangerous dogs are a different breed as the sheriff's department responds to those calls.
In 2004, the county board agreed to charge $2.50 to each person in the county's townships, excluding city residents who often have a municipal policy they contribute to for nuisance or stray dogs and cats. The fees were expected to offset enforcement expenses and raise $55,000.
But seven townships refused to pay, others wanted more information or were silent on paying the fee. An extensive back and forth between the county and townships followed. Township officials said there was a lack of accountability as to whether they were getting what they were paying for. They wanted to know how many dog complaints led to the pick up of a nuisance dog. In 2005, both townships with the greatest or smallest number of nuisance calls refused to pay.
Later, the county adjusted its ordinance to provide nuisance dog service calls only to those townships paying the fees and, after initially planning to end service to three area cities, the county agreed to extend the dog ordinance services to Crosslake, Crosby and Ironton through 2008.
On Tuesday, Administrator Tim Houle suggested the county host a public hearing with the intent of repealing the dog ordinance. Houle said the county is not obligated to provide the service, which often falls to townships or cities. The county board serves as the township authority for Unorganized Territory - which borders Baxter and Brainerd to the north. Houle said the county does have some responsibility for animal control there.
In the absence of a single control officer serving the entire county, Houle said competition for services or pounds may spring up. The county expects to save $40,000 by repealing the ordinance and providing services for Unorganized Territory alone.
Sheriff Todd Dahl said it's been frustrating to hear concerns from people and not to have a good solution. Commissioner Dewey Tautges said he felt a countywide ordinance was needed as good Samaritans shouldn't be left with a bill when they take a stray dog to Heartland Animal Rescue Team's shelter, which has a contract for services with the county. The service was offered to townships and people said no, which favored repealing the ordinance, Commissioner Paul Thiede said. And Thiede said he was blown away by the number of cats, 1,800 of them last year, picked up using the dog ordinance.
The board voted to publish a notice of intent to repeal the dog ordinance, schedule a public hearing and authorize letters be sent to townships and participating cities. Thiede said a notice to repeal the ordinance likely will get the public's attention.
"It's definitely going to spur that dialogue," Houle said.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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