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IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES
JANUARY 7 1997
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, January
7, 1997, in Regular Session at the Iredell County Government
Center, Commissioners' Meeting Room, 200 South Center Street,
Statesville, NC.
Present: Chairman Sara K. Haire
Vice Chairman Steve D. Johnson
David A. Boone
Alice T. Fortner
Alice M. Stewart
Staff present: Joel Mashburn, County Manager
Susan Blumenstein, Finance Director
William Allison, Planning Supervisor
Jean Moore, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Haire called the meeting to order.
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: MOTION by Chairman Haire to accept
the following adjustments to the agenda as were recommended by the
county manager:
Deletions a Animal Control ordinance Amendments (rescheduled for January 21, 1997)
Additions a Request of Sheriff's Department to Apply for A.F.I.E. Grant
e Request of Tax Assessor to Extend Tax Listing Period until
February ll, 1997
e Request to Receive Donated Equipment from Clark -Kurth Components at
Landfill
e Closed eeeeione G.E. 143-31e.11(a)(3) Legal
G.S. 143.319.11(a)(5) Property Acquisition
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0.
APPOINTMENT BEFORE THE BOARD
RANDAL BONEN - PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ANIMAL CONTROL
ORDINANCE: Bowen mentioned that letters had been sent to each
commissioner expressing concern about banning wolf -hybrids in the
County. Mr. Bowen said many people raised the animals, and he felt
it was wrong to tell the owners they had to "get rid" of them.
Bowen contended, through copies of letters from various agencies,
etc., that wolf -hybrids were domesticated animals and should not be
described as exotic animals. In addition, Bowen said the letters
indicated the DNA between wolves and dogs was the same. Further,
Bowen mentioned that in the State of Virginia, several years ago,
an ordinance was written wherein wolf -hybrids were classified as
exotic. Some animals were picked up by officers and later
destroyed. Lawsuits were filed against the governing units and the
animal owners won in court. Bowen said the counties could not
prove the animals were wolf -hybrids, because there's not a
biological test available for this determination. Wolves are
classified as dogs.
Mr. Bowen said he had been around wolf -hybrids for over 25
years. He mentioned they were used as seeing -eye animals, police
search animals, and for many other purposes.
Commissioner Fortner asked what Mr. Bowen did with the animals
he raised. Bowen said he sold them to people and he had some as
pets. He mentioned he requested that buyers sign contracts
stipulating they would take care of the animals. In a year's time,
Bowen said he might sell five to ten animals.
Bowen said he felt if the County couldn't enforce a law then
it shouldn't create the law. He mentioned there were over two