Council Considers Changing Dog Ordinance
Last updated Sunday, August 12, 2007 4:15 PM CDT in News
By John Henley Jr.
THE MORNING NEWS
ROGERS -- One and done: That's the philosophy of the proposed policy regarding vicious dogs in Rogers.
If a dog bites someone and is determined to be vicious, either put it down or move it outside the city limits, said Ben Lipscomb, city attorney.
The Rogers City Council will consider an ordinance Tuesday that changes the way the city deals with vicious dogs. According to the proposed ordinance, vicious dogs will not be allowed within the city limits. A judge would decide whether a dog was provoked, said Lipscomb.
The proposed ordinance states, if convicted of possessing a vicious dog, the owner will have 30 days to either euthanize the dog or remove the dog from the city limits.
A current ordinance states that vicious dogs must be kept in an enclosure, and the owner must carry liability insurance on the animal.
The impetus for the change occurred July 4 when a family's pit bull attacked its 3-year-old girl, Lipscomb said.
An elderly woman was also attacked earlier this year by a dog, said Rhonda DiBasilio, animal services manager at the Rogers Animal Shelter.
The request for the ordinance change came from DiBasilio, who said there has been an increase in number of dog bites recently and it's time to get the problem under control.
The council will also consider waiving the requirement for competitive bidding for a landscaping and beautification project at Exit 85 of Interstate 540.
The $75,000 project would be financed by the administration's budget, said Jerry Hudlow, Rogers city treasurer. The request for the project came from Mayor Steve Womack, Lipscomb said.
A change order for a contract with M.J. Lee for the Perry Road interchange is also on the agenda. The change order is for $200,000 and provides for ornamental light poles and stone texturing on the bridge, said Steve Glass, director of Rogers Planning and Transportation Department.
MEETING INFORMATION
Rogers City Council
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: City Hall, 301 W. Chestnut St.
The meeting will take place in the City Council chambers; enter in the door on the northeast side of the building.
Rezonings on the agenda:
* A request from Jamestown LLC to rezone 4.52 acres at 3102 W. New Hope Road from residential-office to residential-office condominium district.
* A request by Rees Development Inc. to rezone 35.71 acres at Interstate 540 and 45th Street from agricultural to a planned unit development.
* A request by Northstar Holdings LLC to rezone 4.27 acres at the intersection of New Hope Road and South First Street from warehouse office to highway commercial.
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