Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Elkhart County commissioners approve parks ordinance clarifying pet-waste duties and restricting air-gun devices
Summary
The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an updated parks ordinance clarifying that pet owners must gather and properly dispose of animal solid waste (including disposal in park receptacles) and barring air guns, pellet guns and paintball devices in parks except where expressly permitted by the parks director or park board.
Elkhart County commissioners on July 20 approved revisions to the county parks ordinance that clarify animal waste responsibilities and limit possession of air-powered and paintball devices on park property.
County Attorney Steve Olson told the board the first change replaces language about the "removal of" animal feces with a clearer duty that "individuals bringing domesticated animals into a park are responsible for gathering and properly disposing of any solid waste deposited by the animal," and explicitly notes park receptacles may be used if waste is properly disposed of. The second change prohibits "air gun, paintball gun, pellet gun, paintball marker, or paintball grenades" on park property except when a specific permit is issued by the director of Elkhart County Parks or the park board to allow an existing program.
Olson said the ordinance will take effect after the county completes the required publication steps. The board approved the revisions unanimously.
