Starkville aldermen instituted a short-term ban Tuesday against allowing pets inside its three public cemeteries as the city moves toward a public hearing process to permanently amend its animal control ordinance.
The board acted upon recommendations made by the Starkville Cemetery Association after numerous complaints were filed regarding dog owners allowing their pets to relieve themselves on the public properties, specifically two Cotton District locations.
In an October letter to the city from SCA President Charlotte Coker, the group asked aldermen to only allow service animals required for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and suggested workers install high quality signs at University Drive’s Oddfellows and Brush Arbor cemeteries, as well as the Highway 182 Oddfellows location.
Aldermen first attempted an outright ban Tuesday until board attorney Chris Latimer said the move would go against city policy to first hold two public hearings before amending an ordinance.
The board voted 6-1, with Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker as the lone opposition, to institute the moratorium. Although they did not directly task Latimer with the job, it is expected that he will write a new draft of the animal control ordinance to reflect the majority’s will.
It is not known, however, when aldermen will take up the expected changes or how the new ordinance will provide enforcement or penalty provisions.
Little discussion was held on the matter at the table.
Starkville currently has laws on the books that ban animals run at large through the city, spell out animal cruelty, prevent people from keeping nuisance livestock and allow the city to euthanize vicious, domesticated animals.
Both Walker and Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard told the Dispatch in August that animal control issue highlights a need for more trash receptacles — for garbage, pet waste and other materials — in the University Drive-Russell Street corridor near the Cotton District’s large student population.
Walker, who lives near the heart of the student-dominated area, said he voted against the moratorium because he would rather encourage pet owners to clean up after their animals, rather than implementing a rigid ban.
“Wastebaskets and proper signage that display clear rules can do that and would be better than just a ban,” he said. “It’s going to be very difficult to enforce (the expected code amendment), and I’m not sure yet what the other aldermen want to set as the penalty.”
Starkville has ordered three historic markers for the three cemeteries, but the city is expected to approach SCA for “No dogs allowed” signage if aldermen decide to implement the suggestion.
Staff previously confirmed the city had about $15,000 in a cemetery line-item fund in the previous fiscal year. Funding was available, Walker said, to place waste bags in the cemeteries, but monies are expected to be diverted to cover the cost of installing waste bins for University Drive, Miss. Highway 182 and areas near prominent Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit system stops.
A call to Maynard went unreturned at press time.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.