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Tethering lengths considered in animal ordinance amendment.
An amendment to an ordinance governing animal control is being considered by county commissioners.
On Tuesday, commissioners held the first public hearing on the ordinance.
The amendment adds a line to the ordinance regarding tying an animal to a post or some other item on a property.
The sentence states, "If a dog/animal is tied or tethered it must have adequate shelter and bedding in cold weather and fresh food and water daily."
While no one spoke in favor or in opposition to the amendment, commissioner Dennis Bell did have a concern.
"We need some verbage about the length (of the cord)," Bell said.
"Let's make these things at least 10 or 12 feet," he said.
Commissioner Dean Scarborough said that 10 feet should be enough to accommodate for smaller lots with apartments.
Commission chair Michelle Ivester suggested that instead of stating the length of the cord, the wording should be related to running space.
The board approved the rewording to a minimum of 10 feet of running room that will be included in the second public hearing on the ordinance amendment.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners voted 4-1 to give a man six months to find another place of residence.
The board said the man, James Deal, at 1612 West Currahee Street, had been living in a camper on the property for 11 years.
Electrical and sewer utilities were attached to another homeowner’s house on the same property, with permission of the homeowner.
The board considered allowing Deal to continue with the septic and electrical hookups in place.
However, Bell said the electrical line needed something other than a "drop cord" hookup for safety reasons.
Ivester was opposed to the variance due to county ordinances.
"We put ordinances in place for people to follow," Ivester said.
County marshal Joe Smith said there are three campers in the area and that some had received citations for nuisances and building code violations.
While county code allows for variances due to hardship, Scarborough said the only notable item was that Smith had lived in the camper for 11 years.
Commissioner Debbie Whitlock said that was enough.
"To me, that's just their (Deal and the homeowner's) risk to take," Whitlock said.
Bell made a motion to give Deal six months to move out, which was approved 4-1 with Whitlock casting the dissenting vote.
The board also approved taking $8,500 from coronavirus funds to complete the renovations to the entrance on the bottom level of the government building.
Other funding items included $8,791 for heating and air system maintenance at the government building, and $5,300 for water piping at the recreation department's splash pad.