HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_2147 (2)Commissioner Stewart asked if the beds were the same ones the Department of Social
Services used at Barium Springs. Mashburn said they were not. He added that DSS children could
stay longer than 90 days.
MOTION by Commissioner Fortner to approve the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council's
recommendation on the Office of Juvenile Justice Funding in the amount of $236,336 and to
authorize the Chairman to sign the necessary program agreements.
VOTING: Ayes - S; Nays - 0.
REQUEST FOR ADOPTION OF AN EXOTIC ANIMAL ORDINANCEIBAN:
Chairman Haire asked the manager to explain how vicious dogs would be covered under the present
ordinance. Mashburn said the proposed ordinance excluded wolf -dog cross breeds. He said these
were excluded because there were existing provisions that deal with vicious and public nuisance
animals. He said it was difficult to distinguish the wolf -dog crosses with other domestic dogs.
Mashburn said wolf -hybrids would be treated as wild animals and were not excluded from the
ordinance.
Commissioner Fortner asked the manager to review the revisions made during the briefing.
Mashburn stated the following revisions.
I . That item #4 under I. Wild Animals Dangerous to Humans and Property be deleted in its
entirety. (These animals are already regulated by the N.C. Wildlife Commission.)
2. Item #1 under Exotic Animals Dangerous to Humans and Property that it read:
"Reptiles which are poisonous or constricting reptiles that are over 10 feet long."
3. Under: Wild And Exotic Animals Do Not Include: To add #8 to read:
"Domestic dogs and cats."
4. Under II. Section 3.8(g) Wild Animals and Exotic Animals to change (3) a, to read:
"Veterinary clinics and licensed rehabilitation centers in possession of such animals for
rehabilitation purposes."
MOTION by Commissioner Fortner to approve the ordinance entitled, "An Ordinance
Regulating the Keeping of Wild and Exotic Animals Dangerous to Persons or Property Within
Iredell County" as written by the county attorney and with the revisions recommended by the
county manager.
Commissioner Johnson said, "protecting the public's safety was a noble goal, but that goal
should not diminish the personal liberties of the people who had done nothing wrong." He said the
ordinance would take away personal rights.
Commissioner Bowles said that when the board first started reviewingthe issue an ordinance
had been proposed. Next, for simplicity, a motion was made to ban exotic animals. He said the
proposed ordinance had already been revised several times, and it was becoming more and more
complicated.
Chairman Haire mentioned that Lincoln County had unanimously banned inherently
dangerous exotic animals. She also mentioned that Cleveland, Gaston, Catawba, Mecklenburg and
Cabarrus Counties had adopted bans or strict ordinances regulating exotic animals. Hairementioned
that Rowan County was also studying the matter. She said the board had an obligation to protect the
public.
Commissioner Fortner said she had discussed the matter with many citizens who were in
favor of an exotic animal ban for the county.
VOTING: Ayes - 3; Nays - 2 (Bowles/Johnson)