Chelsea Council approves amendment to animal control ordinance

The City of Chelsea’s animal control ordinance now includes sections against animal cruelty.

Chelsea City Council approved at its July 12 meeting the addition of two sections, on cruelty to animals and the tethering of animals, to the city’s animal control ordinance. During pre-council, Mayor Pro Tem Juanita Champion said the issue was before the council following an incident where a family would leave their dog tied up in the yard for several hours at a time.

“We had a horrible electrical storm, in fact it knocked out power here in city hall, and that poor dog had to stay out in that electrical storm without shelter or anything,” Champion said. “And the community kind of got up in arms about it, and two of them even called the sheriff’s department, and the sheriff’s department said they couldn’t do anything about it.”

Champion said the hope was for the amendments to the ordinance to give the city “teeth” in this sort of situation, as contract deputies through the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office are supposed to enforce local ordinances.

The amendment to the ordinance listed several acts under Section 6, Cruelty to Animals, including failing to provide adequate food, water, medical attention or shelter; beating, torturing, injuring or otherwise causing an animal pain, suffering or death; keeping an animal in unsanitary or inhumane conditions; and promoting, permitting or otherwise allowing combat between one or more animals or between animals and humans, among other acts. Section 7, Tethering of Animals, specified, “It shall be unlawful for anyone to inhumanely tether a dog, cat, kitten or puppy and it shall be unlawful for anyone to leave a tethered dog, cat, kitten or puppy in such conditions as to result in inhumane treatment or injury.”

Penalties for any violation of the ordinance, including previously existing sections, include a $100 fine on the first offense, a $300 fine for the second offense in the same calendar year plus 20 hours of community service and court costs, and additional fines and community service for any other offenses within a 12-month period.

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Cody Sumners said during pre-council that while deputies will be able to issue citations in regard to ordinance-related offenses, a lack of municipal court means there will be a lack of enforcement.

“Without a court to enforce these ordinances, they’re worthless,” Sumners said.

During the city council meeting, a Chelsea resident brought up the city’s lack of a municipal court and asked how the amended ordinance would affect enforcement without a designated enforcement officer.

Champion said the amendments would help the city when dealing with individuals not following the ordinance and noted that the city’s contract with the sheriff’s office said, “the deputies will familiarize themselves and enforce our ordinances.”

“Well, it depends on who you talk to in the sheriff’s department and the city of Chelsea and the animal control folks in Columbiana, what action is taken when you call about that,” the resident said. “I’ve talked to others on the council about it, and it’s a concern to some of us residents.”

Council member Dale Neuendorf said the city and council were in agreement that the city is in need of a code compliance officer as soon as it is possible.

“As soon as we can reasonably get another code compliance officer, I think we’re all in agreement that we need one, as well as a municipal court to hear those complaints and where citations have been handed out,” he said.

Council member Alison Nichols also noted that animal cruelty is covered by state law, and can be enforced that way.

The council unanimously approved the amended ordinance, which will go into affect after five days.

The council also approved a resolution in support of law enforcement officers during the meeting. The resolution thanked the deputies with Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, school resource officers and other law enforcement agencies for their hard work.

“The City of Chelsea wholeheartedly supports the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in its efforts, as well as all law enforcement agencies with the same commitment. Furthermore, we call on all citizens in our great nation to give support to their law enforcement heroes and to settle differences with peace and dignity as these are the foundations of the American way of life,” said the closing paragraph of the ordinance.

After being unanimously approved, the resolution was met with standing applause from those in attendance, including Sheriff John Samaniego.

“I just want to thank the citizens of Chelsea because it’s just like you said, it’s a beautiful, safe city and we try to make it as safe as we can, and I’m very fortunate to have outstanding men and women that work with the sheriff’s office that provide you with that safety,” Samaniego said.

Also at the meeting, the council:

• Recognized the Chelsea 6U Bombsquad All-Star team. The team finished second in the Shelby County Invitational, second in the Leeds Invitational, finished first in the district tournament, first in the area tournament and fourth in the state tournament. They had an overall record of 23-6.
• Approved a de-annexation of nearly 35,000 square feet of property off of Highway 11 near the Chelsea Sports Complex. The property is part of the Highlands subdivision and was de-annexed so that the entirety of the subdivision can be annexed into Pelham city limits.
• Approved an annexation request from Scott and Liz Weygand for a 45-acre property on Highway 336.
• Approved an annexation request from Scott and Liz Weygand for a half-portion of a 69.1 acre property on Highway 336. The city only annexed half of the property in accordance with state law which requires property that borders another municipality, in this case Pelham, to be annexed by half, then half, then half, explained council member Tony Picklesimer. The remaining property will be annexed during subsequent meetings.
• Approved an annexation request from Laurence and Jane Weygand regarding a 21.6-acre property.
• Approved an annexation request from Lawrence and Mary Stewart regarding a 3-acre property at 161 Stirrup Cove.
• Approved a resolution to appoint the 2016 Municipal Election poll workers.
• Accepted a bid for the maintenance building at the Chelsea Sports Complex. The bid was from Double J Steel in the amount of $43,000 for the 40-by-60-by-14 building.
• Approved to pay the city’s bills.

The next Chelsea City Council meeting will be July 26 at 6 p.m. Pre-council starts at 5:30 p.m.