Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Clair County committee approves amended animal-control ordinance after public outcry
Summary
After public comment warning the proposed ordinance would limit county animal-control authority, a committee approved Ordinance 26-13 with an amendment shifting appointment of the animal-control director to the county administrator; county staff said welfare checks and assistance remain with animal control.
St. Clair County commissioners approved Ordinance 26-13, amending county animal-control rules while clarifying enforcement roles and the appointment process for the department director.
The move came after multiple public commenters warned the draft ordinance would narrow animal-control authority to a 1919 dog law and strip the county's animal-control agency of broader welfare-enforcement powers. Melissa Miller told the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee she believed the ordinance would "restrict St. Clair County's animal-control authority solely to the dog law of 1919," and said she was prepared to resign if the measure passed. Shavina Hernandez, speaking at the Human Services Committee, said the revised text was posted that afternoon and urged delay, citing two recent dog shootings and pending lawsuits and arguing investigators should send animal-control officers out alongside sheriff's deputies.
County staff responded that the draft ordinance does not eliminate animal-welfare checks or the department's ability to assist owners. A county official explained the change was designed to align enforcement with applicable law and prosecutor guidance: matters likely to produce criminal charges would be led by law enforcement, assisted by animal control, while other enforcement would be handled as civil infractions by animal control. Staff said the civil-infraction approach is intended to speed cases and allow civil judges to order corrective actions.
The committee also adopted an amendment to Article 3, Section 1 to make the county administrator (rather than the board) responsible for appointing the animal-control director. The amended ordinance was approved in a roll-call vote in committee with all present commissioners voting yes (Commissioners Angie, Beaton, Trello, Samasco, Zeller, Rushing and Vandenbroch). The ordinance will proceed through the county's normal process to the full board as required.
The public record shows some community confusion over the document language and timing: several speakers said the ordinance text and packet materials were posted the same day as committee action, limiting opportunity for review. County staff asked residents to resend emails that had not been received and committed to continuing discussions about staffing, on-call coverage and interagency coordination.
The record contains legal references raised by commenters, including the Fourth Amendment and 42 U.S.C. §1983 (raised by Susan Atner) and state penal provisions governing animal-welfare crimes (raised by Melissa Miller). County staff did not point to a statutory change but said the ordinance reflects guidance from the prosecutor and the county's desire to align investigatory steps with criminal/civil distinctions.
Next steps: the ordinance as amended was sent forward after committee approval; the county indicated it will continue to evaluate staffing needs for 24/7 response and consider collaborative options to ensure expert animal handling when required.
