Posted: 9/22/04
City revists issue of dangerous dogs
by Jane Palen
Managing Editor
On a 3-2 vote, the Caledonia City Council gave a second chance to the owner of a dog which reportedly attacked Mike Gavin, the cityís animal control officer.
At the council meeting of September 13, the council heard Gavin describe how he responded to a complaint over a barking dog at the Jack Taylor residence, 320 Bungalow Lane, at a mobile home park in Caledonia.
Gavin said that when he attempted to get the dog confined, it attacked him, ripping a hole in his jeans and in a leather boot he was wearing.
ìI really seriously believe this is a dangerous dog,î Gavin told the council. He asked the council to designate the dog a dangerous dog, which would mean that the animal would have to be euthanized or be placed outside the city limits.
Gavin said he has spoken to Taylor before about the dog due to complaints over barking. He also advised Taylor to register the dog and get its shots up to date.
The dogís owner, Jack Taylor, and girlfriend, Terra Pomeroy, disputed Gavinís account. Taylor said the dog many have ìnipped,î but didnít bite. The dog, which is a pit bull cross, is not vicious and in fact often plays with children who visit at his home. He said he was in the process of getting the dog registered and would be getting its shots up to date. He said he was unable to contact the previous owner to get proof that the dog had its rabies shots.
Councilman Mark Schiltz moved to classify the dog as a dangerous dog. Councilman John Klug and Schiltz voted in favor of the motion, and council members Paul Fisch and Randi Vick and Mayor Robert Burns voted against.
Mayor Burns said that according to the ordinance, a dangerous dog is one that has bitten one or more persons on two or more occasions. He said he didnít think the dog in question fit that description.
A motion was made to classify the dog as a potentially dangerous dog, which passed 4-1 with Councilman Klug against.
With the potentially dangerous designation, Taylor must obtain liability insurance in the amount of $300,000; have the dog confined within a fence at least 6-ft. tall; and put a muzzle and leash on the dog when in public.
Agreement reached
on athletic fields
In other news, the council learned that an agreement has been reached with the soccer association and school district on the use of the cityís athletic fields in the spring. The soccer association will use city fields on weekends, and the school will use the city fields on week days. Soccer practice will be at the far school fields but games will be played at the city fields so fans do not have to walk so far.
The city will be paid $200 per month for two months for use of its fields.
Clerkís office may add staff
An expanding workload in the city clerkís office may necessitate the hiring of additional staff.
The council directed City Clerk Nelson to develop a job description for an additional position in that office.
Proposed levy approved
As required by law, the city passed a proposed levy to submit to the state. The proposed levy is generally higher than the levy that is eventually adopted since the city cannot set the final levy higher than the proposed number.
For its purposes, the city set its proposed level at $369,231, a 10 percent increase over 2004 levy; and set its proposed budget at $$1,664,155, a five percent increase over the 2004 budget.
The final levy will be adopted in December after the budget is set and public hearings have been held.
The council held a closed meeting to discuss negotiation strategy with the city employee association.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com