Noisy dogs major issue for county board
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[At Thursday's meeting of the Saline County Board, board member and chairman of the animal control committee, Carey Harbison, brought the issue of noisy dogs to the county board's attention.
A group of concerned citizens approached the board to complain about their neighbor's dogs, who apparently bark incessantly and have lowered the quality of life for the people who live in the area. The neighbors of the dog-owner say they cannot sleep or sit on their porches due to the noise.
One of the neighbors who came to the meeting, Mike McGuire, said his concerns go beyond the noise issue.
"It's obviously a puppy mill," said McGuire. "I've got nothing against these dogs. I've got something against the people who are doing this to their dogs."
Because the house apparently lies just outside the Eldorado city limits in the area of Old Broughton Road, city ordinances do not apply to the owner of the dogs and nothing can currently be done about what neighbors consider to be a problem. McGuire said a state inspector has already been to the house, but because the dog owner says he is not breeding or selling the dogs, the inspector could not do anything.
Harbison is considering drafting a countywide ordinance against excessive animal noise, and wanted input from the board.
State's Attorney Mike Henshaw suggested fashioning the county ordinance after the city ordinance already in place in Harrisburg.
"It shouldn't be a difficult ordinance to craft," said Henshaw.
Everyone agreed livestock should be excluded from the ordinance, along with other similar exceptions. The board agreed to have Harbison put together a proposed ordinance that will be voted on at a later date.
In addition, the county board also spent some time Thursday night discussing the 1-percent sales tax referendum that will be on the ballot in the primary election. Regional Superintendent of Schools Larry Fillingim spoke at the meeting to help clear up some questions about the tax referendum.
If the sales tax passes, any items purchased in Saline County will have an additional 1-percent sales tax for the purpose of school facilities, and the money will be divided based on student population.
However, there are some things that will be exempt from the tax.
Groceries, prescription drugs, medical supplies and other essentials will not be taxed the extra 1 percent. This way, people on a fixed income, like the elderly, will not be affected when buying essential items.
Another issue that was brought up at a previous county board meeting was the fact that a special ballot must be created for the tax referendum, and board member Bruce Tolley was concerned this would cost the county extra money in the upcoming election. However, County Clerk Kim Buchanan said she had looked into the issue and discovered the cost to the county will be "minimal to miniscule."