Strandburg Town Board Proceedings • February 6, 2022

 

The Strandburg Town Board met on February 6, 2022, at Strandburg Library, 6:30 PM.

Board members present: David Rufer, Todd Rufer, Steve Brehmer and Finance Officer Tammy Rufer.

The minutes from the last meeting were read and upon motion were accepted. The following bills were presented and approved for payment:

Bills:

2589 – Otter Tail – street lights - $175.02

2590 – Tim Rufer – Mowing - $138.00

2591 – US Treasury – taxes - $746.70

2592 – Grant County Treasurer – sale of property - $30.00

2593 – David Rufer – snowblowing & mower sewer 2022 - $1000.00

Old Business:

We had the lawyer draw up a new ordinance for the Town. The Board read it and it was a unanimous vote. It has passed the first Reading. We will have a second reading at the next Board meeting on March 6th, 2022 at Ruffee’s at 6:30.

AN ORDINANCE REGULATING

ANIMALS WITHIN THE TOWN OF STRANDBURG, SOUTH DAKOTA.

BE IT ORDAINED by the Town of Strandburg, South Dakota that Ordinance 2022-1 be enacted as follows:

ANIMALS

Section:

1.01  Definitions.

1.02  Animals at Large.

1.03  Animals Disturbing the Peace.

1.04  Vicious Animals.

1.05  Animals In Heat.

1.06  Rabies.

1.06  Muzzles.

1.07 Number Limited per Owner/ Household.

1.01  Definitions.  Terms used in this Ordinance mean:

(1) “At large” means to be off the premises of the owner and not under the control of the owner or a member of his immediate family over twelve years of age, either by leash fence, or otherwise: but a dog within an automobile of its owner shall be deemed upon its owner’s property.     

(2) “Dog” includes all domesticated members of Canis family, male or female.

(3) “Cat” includes all domesticated members of the Felis Family, male or female.

(4) “Leash” means a cord, thong, or chain, not more than ten feet in length, by which a dog is controlled by the person accompanying it.

(5) “Officer” includes any official with the power and authority of an officer of the law.  Policeman, Policewoman, Sheriff, etc.

(6) “Owner” includes any person, firm or corporation, owning, harboring, or keeping a dog or cat.

(7) “Vicious dog” refers to (1) any dog, when unprovoked, in a vicious or terrorizing manner approaches in an apparent attitude of attack, or bites, inflicts injury, assaults or otherwise attacks a human being upon the streets, sidewalks or any public grounds or place; (2) any dog which, on private property, when unprovoked, in a vicious or terrifying manner approaches in an apparent attitude of attack, or bites, or inflicts injury, or otherwise attacks a mailman, meter reader, serviceman, journeyman, delivery man, or other employed person who is on private property by reason of permission, expressed or implied, of the owner or occupant of such property or who is on private property by reason of a course of dealing with the owner of such private property.

1.02 Prohibited. No dog or cat shall be at large.

1.02.01 Animals At Large: No owner or person in possession having custody of any dog, cat, horse, bovine, swine, sheep, goat or other animal shall permit or allow the animal to run at large, or to trespass upon the premises of any other person or persons within the town limits.

1.03 Animals Disturbing The Peace:

1.03.01 Animals Disturbing The Peace: (a) No person owning and no person keeping, harboring or having on property occupied by such owner or person, any dog, cat or other animal, incensed or unlicensed, confined on the premises or otherwise, shall suffer or permit such animal to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood by making loud and/or unusual noises, or shall suffer or permit such animal to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood by persistent or constant barking, howling, whining, snarling or growling.

(b) Upon complaint being made to law enforcement that any person owns or is keeping or harboring any animal which disturbs the peace as herein set forth, law enforcement shall be empowered to immediately take possession of said animal and to impound said animal.  Law enforcement shall leave in a conspicuous place notice of said impoundment and the address and telephone number of the Pound where the animal is being taken.  Law enforcement, in addition to the notice left at the place from which the animal was taken into possession, shall send written notice to the resident of said address or to the owner of the animal, if known.  Law enforcement shall further attempt to contact the owner or the person keeping, harboring or having on his property said animal by telephone.  Any contact made by law enforcement shall include the place where the animal is being held and the phone number of the place where the animal is being held.

(c) In addition to the impounding of such animal or other penalties prescribed, the owner of the animal and the occupant of the property on which the animal is being kept or harbored during the time that the animal is disturbing the peace, shall be subject to a penalty as prescribed by law.

1.04 Vicious Animals:

1.04.01 Vicious Animal Regulation: If any dog or cat is of a vicious disposition or has dangerous habits, law enforcement shall notify its owner or possessor in writing and provide a copy of this ordinance to the owner of or possessor of such dog or  cat to confine such animal, and if thereafter such owner or possessor fails to comply with such notice, law enforcement is authorized, empowered and directed to kill or cause to be killed such animal, whether found running at large or upon the premises of the owner  forthwith, and without impounding such dog, cat or other animal.

1.05 Animals In Heat.

1.05.01 Animals In Heat. Female dogs or cats in heat shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such dog or cat cannot come in contact with another male dog or cat, except for planned breeding purposes.

1.06 Rabies.

1.06.01 Rabies Quarantine: The owner of any dog, cat or other animal which has contracted rabies, or which has been subjected to the same, or which is suspected of having rabies, or which has bitten any person or other animal, upon the demand of law enforcement, shall be required upon request to confine such dog, cat or other animal for a period of not less than ten (10) days and not more than six (6) months.  However, any dog or cat that has been properly treated with an anti-rabies vaccine shall be confined for a period of not less than ten (10) days but not more than three (3) months.  In the case that the animal is other than a dog or cat, law enforcement may serve written notice upon the owner of such animal that the owner shall have the animal euthanized immediately and said owner shall comply with said notice immediately.  Failure to obey the request and demands of law enforcement under this section shall be a violation of this ordinance.  The owner of any animal which has contracted rabies or which has been subjected to the same, or which is subjected to having rabies, or which shall have bitten any person, shall, upon the demand of law enforcement, produce and surrender the animal to the department to be held in quarantine for observation for a period of not less than ten (10) days. If examination of any animal shall prove it to be infected with any rabies, such animal shall be disposed of as directed by law enforcement.  The owner of any animal so quarantined shall pay all costs and expenses incurred by the town during the quarantine period, including, but not limited to maintenance, examination and treatment of such animal and for the disposal of said animal.

1.07 Muzzles.

1.07.01 Muzzles When Required: The mayor may, by proclamation, at any time, upon forty-eight (48) hours’ notice,  publish in the official paper of this town, that all dogs in the town shall be muzzled in such a manner as to make it impossible for said dogs to bite any person, dog or other animal.

1.08 Number Of Animals Limited.

1.08.01 Number of Animals Per Household Limited:  No person  shall own, have in his possession, keep or harbor under any circumstances, in excess of three (3) dogs and cats, or, in the alternative, two (2) dogs, and/or, two (2) cats, as defined in this chapter.  Not more than one (1) cat may be female, unless cat the is spayed.  Provided, however, if any female dog or cat bears a litter of puppies or kittens, those puppies or kittens may be held in possession of such owner for a period of time not to exceed two (2) months from the date of their birth.

No New Business:

As there was no further business to discuss, a motion made by D. Rufer to adjourn. Second by T. Rufer. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting Adjourned. 

Tammy Rufer,

Finance Officer Town of Strandburg