HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_2145 (2)Dr. Julia Williams (Asst. Supt.) and Don Atkinson (Director of Facilities) attended the
meeting along with School Board members Ralph Staley and Jim Head. Several school system
administrators also attended.
PRESENTATION BY LOREN WORLEY IN REFERENCE TO THE EXOTIC
ANIMAL ORDINANCE/BAN: Worley said he had read the proposed ordinance and desired to
make the following comments.
1. He said he was glad the ordinance was just a partial ban for exotic animals.
2. He said he didn't see why the county was involved since the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulated exotic animals.
3. He mentioned that Section 3.8 (g) 3 (a) was too restrictive. Worley said it should include
licensed rehabilitation centers.
4. In reference to traveling circuses mentioned in Section 3.8 (g) 3(c), Worley said it seemed
that county taxpayers could not own exotics and have them in secured enclosures, but
people making money off the animals could. He said this was a contradiction.
OTHERS SPEAKING IN REFERENCE TO THE EXOTIC BAN WERE:
Debbie Russo (opposition): Said statistics showed there were more dog problems than
exotic animal problems. Russo also mentioned that statistics showed that people owning animals
were healthier.
Joe Parlato (opposition): Invited all of the audience members in opposition to the ban to
stand up. Approximately 30 people stood up.
Crystal Parlato (opposition)• Mentioned her family moved to Iredell County about eight
months ago. She said they owned a lion and recently went to great expense to build a secure
enclosure. Parlato said, "We went by all of the county's rules and regulations, and now we are
being punished."
William Ecliff (opposition): He said he was a friend of the Parlato family. He asked how
the commissioners could just vote and ask the Parlato family to move since they owned a lion. Ecliff
said, "The only attack being made is your vote."
Margaret Lane (Past President of the Local Humane Society): She encouraged the
commissioners to consider an ordinance instead of a ban. Lane said a total ban on the animals
would drive them "underground." Then, the animals would not receive proper veterinarian care.
Ms. Lane said animal escapes would not be reported. Lane encouraged the commissioners to take
time with the ordinance. She pointed out two ordinance components that she had concerns about.
She, too, mentioned there was not a provision to allow wildlife rehabilitators to offer care and
treatment for injured animals. She mentioned concerns about allowing traveling circuses to bring
in exotics or wild animals. Lane said, "abuse and cruelty tend to be the norm with the circuses."
Commissioner Stewart asked Lane if the USDA licensed the circuses. Lane said they did;
however, the USDA was so understaffed that they could not properly make inspections.
PRESENTATION BY BOB PRIVETTE IN REFERENCE TO THE IREDELL
COUNTY BUDGET AND TAXES: Privette said he was representing senior citizens. He
mentioned that in the past few years his income had been cut four to six percent. He said he was also
concerned about the high expense of prescription drugs.
Privette said the county departments should not be given large budgets at the expense of
senior citizens. Mr. Privette said the county was being managed well, it had a low tax rate, and to
fund the current services and still maintain at least an eight percent surplus was good management.