Emo council revisits dog debate

Although Emo council decided earlier this month that it would not be “breed specific” and pass a bylaw to cage and padlock rottweilers and pit bulls, the issue was back on the table at last Tuesday night’s regular meeting.
Coun. Ken Fisher initiated the discussion, noting he had been approached by a resident after the previous meeting and was informed of the seriousness of the situation.

“I didn’t know it was so bad,” Coun. Fisher stressed, noting from the information he received that one particular animal, while chained on the owner’s property, lunges towards people passing by.
“The chain ain’t going to stop the dog,” he remarked. “And if it gets a kid, how are we going to feel?”
Coun. Fisher noted there are restrictions on vicious dogs, like rottweilers and pit bulls, in other communities.
“I think we have to do something about this,” he added.
Coun. Gerd O’Sullivan maintained, however, that these animals are not instinctively vicious—their owners have trained them to be that way—and shouldn’t be treated differently than other breeds of dogs.
“But they are noted to be bad and have killed kids,” said Coun. Fisher.
“So have other breeds,” Coun. O’Sullivan countered.
Yet despite these feelings, she agreed she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt and determined council should act proactively towards the situation.
With all present members of council in agreement, Emo Reeve Ed Carlson declared that the municipality’s dog catcher will approach the owner of the dog and request the problem be rectified.
“We’ll try this approach first before making a bylaw,” he explained.
However, council concluded it only would allow a short time for the owner to co-operate. And if they don’t, council will require the animal to be penned to their specifications.
In other business at the Jan. 23 meeting, Emo council heard a report from OPP detachment commander Insp. Dave Lucas.
As a means of regulatory communication, Insp. Lucas updated council on administration, operation, and costs of the detachment.
He also said he’d like to explore the formation of a District Emergency Resource Control Group.
“This would not replace your local community control group,” Insp. Lucas stressed. “It would be a means of obtaining resources in an emergency that extend beyond those in you own municipality.
“It would also be a communications link between all district communities during an emergency.”
Insp. Lucas introduced the idea since he’s currently written into all 10 emergency plans in the district and it would not be practical to have a police officer in every group.
“Therefore, one point of contact for OPP is necessary,” he said, noting it also would be a more effective process for other agencies that supply resources in an emergency.
He hopes to have consultations with the municipalities and agencies to see if this is worthwhile.
In addition, Insp. Lucas provided Emo council with figures of occurrences in 2006—214 in total—which is down slightly from 228 in 2005.
Those incidences included violent crimes (eight), property crimes (31), drug crimes (three), impaired drivers (1), and motor vehicle collisions (14).
“That’s really good to see impaired driving so low,” noted Coun. Fisher, saying he feels less teenagers are taking the risk of drinking and driving.
“They may be more aware of the dangers—I think it’s good,” agreed Insp. Lucas.
Also at the Jan. 23 meeting, Emo council:
•agreed to seek names of residents to sit on an environmental advisory committee;
•concluded Reeve Carlson will join Clerk/Treasurer Brenda Cooke in reviewing the Township of Emo’s Accessibility Plan;
•authorized to make application to Canadian Heritage’s 2007 “Celebrate Canada” funding for this year’s Canada Day celebration;
•declared June as Recreation and Parks month;
•agreed to have Riverside Foundation of Health Care make a presentation at a future meeting regarding the “Just Imagine” campaign for the CT Scanner at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances; and
•in a public meeting before the regular one, approved the application of Peter Allison to amend zoning at 22 Front St. from Residential Zone (R1) to Neighbourhood Commercial Zone (C3) to permit a professional office building.
Emo council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the municipal office.