Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oceana County adopts dog running-at-large fees; animal control officer sought removal of misdemeanor charge
Summary
On Jan. 9 the Oceana County Board of Commissioners approved fines of $50 and $100 for first and second dog-running-at-large infractions and left misdemeanor charging to officers’ discretion; at a committee meeting County Animal Control Officer Michael Garcia asked that a third-offense misdemeanor be removed, citing existing statute.
The Oceana County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 9 adopted a fee schedule for dogs running at large that sets fines of $50 plus court costs for a first offense and $100 plus court costs for a second offense, and allows officers discretion to charge a misdemeanor at any time. The motion (MOTION #2025-05) was moved by Commissioner Beggs, supported by Commissioner Hardy and passed by unanimous roll-call vote.
The item was discussed further in the Courts and Public Safety Committee, where Michael Garcia, the county’s animal control officer, asked that the misdemeanor charge for a third offense be removed from the fee schedule. Garcia told the committee that Michigan’s current statute governing dogs running at large already permits animal control officers to issue misdemeanor citations, and he recommended removing the separate misdemeanor provision from the local fee schedule to avoid redundancy.
Administrator Melanie Byard and committee members recorded Garcia’s request; the record notes Judge Middlebrook indicated the court cannot comment on ordinances or fee schedules until they are enacted. The Board’s adopted language retains officer discretion on whether to pursue misdemeanor charges. No additional procedural steps or implementation dates were specified at the meeting.
MOTION DETAILS: Motion #2025-05 adopted the fee schedule as presented. Moved by Commissioner Beggs; supported by Commissioner Hardy. Roll-call votes recorded in favor by Commissioners Beggs, Hardy, McCormick, Erickson and Walker. Outcome: approved.
