Pit bulls still targeted
Staff writer
Removing the ban on three dog breeds considered to be aggressive went nowhere at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Police Chief Aaron Slater proposed lifting the ban on pit bulls and Rottweilers about a month ago.
Council members did not see the need, and since the policy was not changing, no vote was needed.
Resident Bud Pruese, who carries with him a golf club to fight off attacking dogs, said it’s not fun when they come after you.
“We are not getting any younger, and I may not be able to swing the club,” he said.
Council member Kevin Burkholder agreed with Pruese.
“I had one dog come after me,” he said. It’s terrifying. It’s very unpleasant.”
Pruese recently saw four dogs running loose at the cemetery, so he knows people are not following the city’s leash law. He added he has been in touch with Police Chief Aaron Slater about his concern.
“We have a leash law in the city,” Mayor Mike Powers said. He added when he ran and biked in Marion he does not remember a dog attacking.
However, Powers conceded, there are places in the city where he would not do those activities.
The concern for council member Zach Collett is the way this is being handled currently is not working, and council member Amy Smith wondered whether any policy would prevent dogs from running loose.
Council member Tim Baxa said the National Association of Animal Control is against controlling the type of breed in a city.
It’s already in the code, and added maybe there should be education for pet owners on what is allowed, he said.
Powers said that if a small dog bites someone it is much less serious over a bite from a pit bull or Rottweiler.
If the ordinance was not going to change, Powers wants police officers to take the current ordinance more seriously
Council was told that out of 503 fatalities caused by dogs over the last eight to nine years, 397 of them were from pit bulls and Rottweilers.
“One dog can bite and hurt you, and one dog can bite and kill,” Powers said.
Lisa Anderson, who lives in the country, has nine dogs of different breeds, including Rottweilers and pit bulls, disputed that certain breeds tend to be more aggressive.
“I have pit bulls, and they are just babies,” she said.
Baxa wanted to know whether his five kids would be safe if encountering a pit bull.
Pruese said the big difference is how dogs react to family members over strangers.
Powers said if the ordinance was changed to allow aggressive dogs, the city and pet owners could be sued if someone was hurt by one of these breeds.
This policy could be brought back at a later time, he said.
In other news, Slater asked council to increase the pay rate of Marion part-time police officers to make it comparable to what Hillsboro pays.
Slater proposed raising the hourly rate from $20 an hour to $22.50. Hillsboro pays its part-time officers $22 an hour. He added that Hillsboro might increase its pay if Marion’s pay increases.
Increasing the pay could also be used as a recruiting tool, Slater said.
Slater said with the increased pay some of these officers could stay longer and become full-time.
“I think it would benefit us,” he said.
Council will vote on the pay raises at its Feb. 17 council meeting.
Slater also asked council to approve the purchase of a used 2024 Ford Explorer with 5,700 miles.
Slater said buying new is ideal, but with the financial situation the city is in, purchasing used is the better choice, as it would save $10,000 to $15,000.
The 2012 Impala police car would be sold, and the money would go into the city’s general fund.
If council approves the Ford Explorer the police department would not need another car until 2028 or 2029, Slater said.
The council at its next meeting will vote on whether to approve the purchase.
Council also agreed to proceed with the demolition of the building within 60 days at 200 E. Main St.
City administrator Brian Wells asked council to approve flex time for employees, when possible.
Under this, employees who work in offices could spend up to eight hour a week working from home with Wells’ approval.