Council Member Steve Mosley sends along an update on the Oct. 17 meeting of the Maumelle City Council along with some observations from the Monday night meeting.
In the October 17th meeting, we had the 2nd reading of Council Member Jess Holt's proposed Ordinance No. 1078 that contained provisions raising animal fines and fees. During the discussion, I reminded the Council of the recent Pit Bull attack in Maumelle this past summer and brought up an even more tragic attack from the Memphis area recently in which 2 small children were attacked and killed by the family's 2 Pit Bull dogs. I found out about this latest attack from several residents who emailed questioning our Council's judgement in lifting our own longstanding ban against such dogs. I said that because the Council lifted our longstanding ban in 2021 without allowing the residents vote on the matter, the Pit Bull subject would very likely continue to be a hot button topic. I suggested that we again consider settling this matter once and for all by allowing the residents to vote on whether they wanted Pit Bulls here in Maumelle.
After some discussion, those Council Members who were present voted unanimously to ask the City Attorney to research how to put such a referendum on the ballot in the March 2024 Presidential Primary Election.
In last Monday's Council meeting, the Council unanimously passed Council Member Holt's ordinance on animal fines and fees. As to the possibility of a referendum on the Pit Bull subject, City Attorney reported back on the procedure it would take to put that question on the March 2024 ballot. After much discussion on the pros and cons, I asked City Attorney Missi Krebs to go ahead and prepare the necessary resolution and associated paperwork to be presented at the next Council meeting on November 21.
It is my hope that Council Members and residents can agree that putting this subject to a vote by residents on the 2024 ballot is the best way to put this safety issue to rest once and for all. Basically, if the Council votes to pass the resolution for the referendum at our Nov. 21 Council meeting, the matter will be referred to the Pulaski County Election Commission, and Maumelle residents will have a chance to vote "yes" or "no" to decide the issue in March 2024.
Steve Mosley: Update on dog legislation
Steve Mosley: Update on dog legislation
Steve Mosley: Update on dog legislation
Council Member Steve Mosley sends along an update on the Oct. 17 meeting of the Maumelle City Council along with some observations from the Monday night meeting.
In the October 17th meeting, we had the 2nd reading of Council Member Jess Holt's proposed Ordinance No. 1078 that contained provisions raising animal fines and fees. During the discussion, I reminded the Council of the recent Pit Bull attack in Maumelle this past summer and brought up an even more tragic attack from the Memphis area recently in which 2 small children were attacked and killed by the family's 2 Pit Bull dogs. I found out about this latest attack from several residents who emailed questioning our Council's judgement in lifting our own longstanding ban against such dogs. I said that because the Council lifted our longstanding ban in 2021 without allowing the residents vote on the matter, the Pit Bull subject would very likely continue to be a hot button topic. I suggested that we again consider settling this matter once and for all by allowing the residents to vote on whether they wanted Pit Bulls here in Maumelle.
After some discussion, those Council Members who were present voted unanimously to ask the City Attorney to research how to put such a referendum on the ballot in the March 2024 Presidential Primary Election.
In last Monday's Council meeting, the Council unanimously passed Council Member Holt's ordinance on animal fines and fees. As to the possibility of a referendum on the Pit Bull subject, City Attorney reported back on the procedure it would take to put that question on the March 2024 ballot. After much discussion on the pros and cons, I asked City Attorney Missi Krebs to go ahead and prepare the necessary resolution and associated paperwork to be presented at the next Council meeting on November 21.
It is my hope that Council Members and residents can agree that putting this subject to a vote by residents on the 2024 ballot is the best way to put this safety issue to rest once and for all. Basically, if the Council votes to pass the resolution for the referendum at our Nov. 21 Council meeting, the matter will be referred to the Pulaski County Election Commission, and Maumelle residents will have a chance to vote "yes" or "no" to decide the issue in March 2024.