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Mayfield council adopts higher dog-impound fees to cover care costs
Summary
The Mayfield Town Council voted Jan. 14 to raise impound fees for dogs (first impound $50; second $100; third $200; subsequent impounds double) after staff said current fees did not cover boarding and vaccination costs. Council also discussed enforcement limits and county court collection rules.
The Mayfield Town Council on Jan. 14 adopted an updated fee schedule for impounded dogs, raising the first impound to $50 and increasing subsequent penalties so the third impound is $200 and each subsequent impound doubles.
Town staff member Amanda explained the schedule on the record, saying the revised fees are intended to cover vaccinations, boarding and other costs the town incurs when animals are impounded. “The first impound will be $50 for the dog. The second would be a 100. The third would be 200. The fourth and subsequent impoundments would be double accordingly,” Amanda said.
Council members discussed enforcement and how citations are handled if a case is referred to county justice court. A council member noted that if cases go to the Sankey County Justice Court, the county will apply the state uniform fine schedule rather than collecting an additional local penalty. Council also debated whether officers should use citations more often for chronic violations; town animal-control staff said past direction had emphasized education and “knock and talk” rather than frequent tickets.
Council member Mark moved to adopt the updated fee schedule and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
What’s next: The council said it will revisit enforcement procedures and legal language to clarify whether citations will be pursued under state code or by a local ordinance, and staff was asked to bring related details to a work meeting.
