County board passes animal control ordinance
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[At the regular monthly meeting of the Saline County Board held Thursday night at the county courthouse, the board voted to pass a controversial ordinance regarding excessive animal noise and other nuisances caused by animals.
The three main components of the ordinance make it unlawful for animals in unincorporated areas of the county to substantially damage other people's property, cause unsanitary, dangerous or offensive conditions or cause a nuisance by habitual barking or other noises.
The last portion, which seems to have been the most controversial, requires at least three noise complaints from neighbors before anything is done, and livestock are not included in this section of the ordinance.
"We wanted more than one complaint before sending the sheriff's department out there," said board member and animal control committee chairman Carey Harbison.
At last month's meeting, the board waived the first reading of the ordinance. Thursday night they voted to waive the second reading as well, but Harbison made a motion to go ahead and pass the ordinance. Board member Karla Carrigan seconded the motion, which passed with two votes against the ordinance from board members Danny Gibbs and Jonathon Prather. Board members Bruce Allen and Roger Craig were unable to attend the meeting and therefore not included in the vote.
Harbison said later that he feels it's a shame the animal nuisance had become such a problem that it had to come to this, but "the rights of people have to be respected."
He added that people can have as many dogs and animals as they want, they just have to have the responsibility to take care of the animals and not allow them to get in the way of others' rights.
A first offense is considered a petty offense with a fine not to exceed $100. Subsequent offenses are Class B misdemeanors.
During the meeting, the board also unanimously approved the following appointments:
J.P. Hart received a three-year reappointment to the Black Branch Drainage District.
William DeVillez received a three-year reappointment to the Eldorado Drainage District.
Kelly Hefner received an indefinite term to the Regional Water Quality Coordinating Council, which is a new committee.
Jay D. Williams received a six-year term to the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority, which is also a new committee.