In a close vote, Galesburg’s controversial dog ordinance was altered through amendments last week. The amendments focused on tethering dogs on private property and lengthened the leash required on public property. The ordinance which had been in final reading has been tabled until the new amendments have been added to the ordinance.
Action
on the ordinance was dominated by 3rd Ward Alderman Russell
Fleming. Fleming proposed three
amendments to the ordinance. The first
was to remove the requirement that a dog be at all times on a leash or tethered
when outside in a private yard. The
second amendment gave the council affirmation power over the animal control
officer position. Finally the third
amendment moved the leash length from 6 feet to 8 feet.
The
first amendment would now state that an owner of sound body and mind has to be
present with the dog when outside on private property. 2nd Ward Alderman Wayne Dennis
brought up issues presented by the ordinance of being able to enjoy the dog
even on public sites like Lake Story.
Even former proponent, 1st Ward Alderman Ken Goad spoke that
the rules on private property restraint were excessive.
7th
Ward Alderman Jeremy Karlin spoke for ordinance as written stating that the
issues of personal property and public safety have to be weighed and that in
his estimation public safety should win.
Karlin chaired the committee responsible for the ordinance. When asked later if the amendments would hurt
the effectiveness, Karlin replied, “To some extent they weaken the ordinance
but not fatally so.”
While
this was going on Galesburg resident Dolly Sprinkle was sitting in the front
row with a letter in her hand. She was
visibly upset at the proposed amendments.
When asked why she stated, “It started with a tragedy but so many things
have come forward because of this… I saw that (forward progress) happening with
these ordinances. They weren’t perfect
but they were better. To take a step
back and say no now.” The tragedy referred
to was the death of seven year old Ryan Maxwell in March due to a dog
attack.
Sprinkle
tried to speak right before the vote but Mayor John Pritchard told her that it
was no longer time to have a public discussion.
When asked what she wanted to speak about, she said, “I had a letter
from my ten year old son who was friends with Ryan and has been following this
closely. I just wanted to read his
letter because that is what I told him I would do.”
The
vote took place and the first new amendment took an initial 4-3 affirmative
vote before 4th Ward Alderman Corine Anderson changed her vote to
yes. The rest of the amendments flew
through with relative easy. The
ordinance was then tabled until all changes could be put into writing. When asked about possibility that the
ordinance could now die, Fleming responded, “I don’t think that is going to
happen. I think there is too much
support for some of the changes.”
Sprinkle is hopefully
for other changes. “Hopefully someone
will come back, maybe Jeremy Karlin, and will try and make the in your yard
thing more substantial,” stated Sprinkle.
The ordinance will be back on the table at the City Council meeting on
November 18th at 6:30pm.
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