8-21-17 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Reives arrived at the meeting at 6:05 p.m. B. The next public hearing proposed the adoption of an Animal Services Ordinance. Heath Cain, Lee County Health Department Director, stated that the Board of Health voted to form an Animal Services Subcommittee in the summer of 2016 to review and update the Lee County Animal Services Ordinance. Members of the subcommittee included Dr. Diane Schaller, Dickie Sloop, Dr. Teresa Woodell, Dr. Andre Knecht, Sergeant Ken Gilstrap, County Attorney Whitney Parrish, Anthony Williams, and Juan Diaz -Franco. The goal of the subcommittee was to explain the duties of the Lee County Sheriff's Office and the Lee County Animal Shelter, further protect the public's health by providing rabies vaccines for a fee, enforce microchipping, and strengthen the enforcement section. The fees and fines and Lee County Animal Services Permit were added as Appendices so they could be modified in the future without modifying the ordinance. Within the proposed ordinance, there is no requirement for animals to be tethered. If an owner chooses to tether an animal, it must be done as per the proposed ordinance. The enforcement section clearly defines the charges the Lee County Sheriffs Office may take with respect to civil penalties and criminal citations. There was a community meeting held May 23, 2017 at the Ernest and Ruby McSwain Extension Education and Agriculture Center from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to explain the proposed revisions to the Lee County Animal Services Ordinance. The community meeting was advertised in the Sanford Herald and on the Lee County Website. Paper copies of the proposed ordinance, along with the specific modifications being made were also available at the Animal Shelter and the Health Department. The Lee County Board of Health held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance on July 19, 2017. The advertisement was placed in the Sanford Herald and on the Lee County Government website so that information would be available, including the proposed ordinance and modifications made by the subcommittee. No one spoke for or against the proposed ordinance at the public hearing. After the public hearing, the Animal Services Subcommittee presented the proposed Animal Services Ordinance to the Board of Health. The Board of Health approved the recommendation of the Ordinance as presented. At this time, Chair Dalrymple opened the public hearing. The following spoke in favor of the proposed Animal Services Ordinance: ■ Sergeant Gilstrap, Lee County Sheriff's Office No one spoke in opposition of the proposed Animal Services Ordinance. Chair Darlymple proceeded to close the public hearing. Page 3112