MANSFIELD, Ohio – Concerns regarding the proposed anti-tethering ordinance, as well as downtown’s proposed entertainment district, were addressed during the regular meeting of Mansfield City Council Tuesday night.
Humane Society of Richland County Director Missy Houghton addressed concerns that have been voiced regarding the anti-tethering ordinance. Questions such as: who would respond to violations of this law, and how would it be funded? Houghton said that the Humane Society, a non-profit organization, will be the one responding to such situations.
“My wages are not paid by tax payer money; we are funded strictly on donations,” Houghton said. “So if I am the one responding to complaints in violation with this law, it’s not going to be anything that’s coming out of this city’s funds.”
Dr. John Shuler, a veterinarian in Galion and former president of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, provided a medical opinion to back this ordinance.
“It is the opinion of both the American Veterinary Medical Association, as well as the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, that tethering companion animals is detrimental to their well-being, their psyche, and how they behave and interact with humans and with other animals,” Shuler said.
“Fido’s Law,” as the ordinance is known, would prohibit the tethering of companion animals (pets) outdoors under various circumstances, unless the animal is properly exempted. Under the legislation, it would be unlawful to chain an animal outside between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. Also, animals would have to be brought inside in the event of a heat or cold advisory.
Entertainment district
Local residents also voiced apprehension in regard to the recently proposed downtown entertainment district.
Concerns rested in whether the family-oriented businesses in the downtown area had been considered and if more police force would be needed to patrol the designated area.
Law Director John Spon agreed that there are a lot of technical details that would need to be thought out very carefully.
“The concept of establishing an entertainment district is very complicated,” but, “if approached in the right way, it can be very beneficial to a community,” Spon said.
Maintenance
City Engineer Bob Bianchi advertised a new bid for replacing the concrete on the upper plaza area outside of the municipal building.
“You can see that it is deteriorated; there are some trip hazards,” Bianchi said, “It needs to be replaced.”
Bianchi told council members he plans to propose one bid using just regular concrete and then an alternate bid using colored concrete. The City of Mansfield Maintenance Department has allotted funds of $50,000 to $60,000 specifically for this project, Bianchi said. However, the funds needed with the new proposed colored concrete are yet to be calculated.
The new concrete bid and the anti-tethering ordinance will be up for vote at the next city council meeting on May 19.
