Resident urges formal investigation after repeated dog attacks, questions mayor’s handling

A Maxwell resident during public comment said a large dog has repeatedly chased and approached them and their small dog while walking in town and urged the council to enforce the city’s dangerous- and vicious-animal ordinances. The commenter said the dog has attacked villagers on multiple occasions and that county animal-control staff (Anna Henderson) told them there had been at least three incidents involving that animal.

The speaker read the city code’s definitions for “dangerous animal” and “vicious animal” and asked why the mayor had not caused a formal investigation under the ordinance’s language that “the mayor or peace officer shall cause the matter to be investigated.” The commenter asked the council for copies of any investigative records and for the council to follow the ordinance’s investigatory steps.

Mayor (name not given in the transcript) responded that he had asked the county to provide any information and that the city had issued citations in the matter. He said he had requested the county investigation documents to review them before determining next steps. Council members pressed for clearer documentation of prior incidents and for a more formal process: one council member suggested the mayor recuse himself from any decision about the animal because of prior comments the mayor made about shooting dogs, and another council member urged that a panel or multiple council members review the matter rather than leaving it to a single official.

Resident Cindy James of 619 Maxwell Street and others described multiple encounters with the same dog, saying it runs “off leash” through the park, soccer field and streets. Cindy James told the council: “That dog runs all the time off leash,” and called for enforcement and safety for dog walkers.

Council direction and next steps: staff and council agreed to follow up with the county animal-control office to obtain any investigative files, to clarify which citations had been issued, and to return with recommendations. No formal removal or definition of the animal as “dangerous” or “vicious” was recorded as completed during the meeting; the council discussed a possible motion to request a formal investigation under the city ordinance.

The meeting record shows the claim and the mayor’s response remain disputed on the council floor: the resident said the mayor had declined to investigate, while the mayor said he had requested the county’s materials and that citations had been issued. The council asked staff to locate public records and to report back at a subsequent meeting.