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Mostly sunny. High 94F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

The Warsaw Public Safety Committee held a meeting on July 20 and discussed a possible ordinance concerning dogs as well as nuisance properties. From left, are, Alderman Kim Nagel (Ward 2) Mayor Mike Heisler and Chairperson Alderman Priscilla Blecha (Ward 1.) Alderman Alan Leffler (Ward 3) was absent from the meeting.

The Warsaw Public Safety Committee held a meeting on July 20 and discussed a possible ordinance concerning dogs as well as nuisance properties. From left, are, Alderman Kim Nagel (Ward 2) Mayor Mike Heisler and Chairperson Alderman Priscilla Blecha (Ward 1.) Alderman Alan Leffler (Ward 3) was absent from the meeting.

Local resident RaChella Brookhart was back at Warsaw City Hall on Wednesday, July 20, to address members of the Public Safety Committee and to share and provide updates on research she has compiled recently on animal control and dog ordinances from other cities, following her having gone to the County Board to request a change in policy. Brookhart made a request to assist the city in the writing of an updated ordinance for the city of Warsaw and warned that it was necessary for the city to do so to prevent its own liability.

Warsaw Chairperson Priscilla Blecha had called the Public Safety Committee meeting that began at City Hall shortly after 4 p.m. and ended shortly after 5:30 p.m. The agenda and the discussion were focused on a review of Warsaw’s dog ordinance – hearing then from the local resident – and discussing nuisance properties around town. Present at the July 20 Public Safety Committee meeting were Alderman Kim Nagel (Ward 2), Mayor Mike Heisler, and Alderman Priscilla Blecha (Ward 1). Absent was Alderman Alan Leffler (Ward 3).

Stating she was modeling the ordinance after the Adams County dog ordinance, and requesting it be aligned and modified to meet the needs of the city of Warsaw, to hold dogs to a stricter ordinance, Brookhart laid out her request to include looking at the job responsibilities of the Warsaw animal control officer and allowing the ACO to have more discernment and authority to enforce an ordinance. Brookhart said she would like to see an ordinance where a dog be automatically deemed dangerous should it bite a person and clarified that it should also include that should a dog then bite or attack again after it was deemed dangerous, then a dog be deemed vicious, and that the city dog catcher have the authority to do this without the matter having to go to the county. Brookhart said that she was told by the county that “Hancock County has one of the most lenient ordinances in the state.”

Brookhart said her research showed that the current ordinance in place in Warsaw appears to model the state ordinance which she expressed is but a shell in scope and authority. Brookhart explained that at the legislative level there have been acts and laws made to mitigate these issues, but said her research found that mostly it is the county ordinances that carry the weight as to scope and authority of enforcement and even more so that it is really the cities ordinances that have the most weight in scope and authority and explained that in the State of Illinois, it really is “in the hands of each city” to determine how strict their ordinance on the matter will be and how that is enforced.

Mayor Heisler invited Brookhart to write a draft ordinance and said it would have to be reviewed by the Warsaw City Attorney, Tom Hartzell, but that he welcomed the opportunity to have Brookhart do that. Brookhart has been doggedly determined to see a change in policy since her son was attacked last August while playing outside. It appears that Brookhart may see a victory with her quest as the Warsaw Public Safety Committee appeared eager to review copies of other area city ordinances and establish an updated version for its own use. However, it was left in Alderman Nagel’s hands to provide copies of the ordinances that were available to review.

With regard to nuisance properties, the committee then circled Warsaw to list not only abandoned vehicles, but also to provide an inventory of blight and dilapidation. These included commercial buildings in the commercial district and their current disposition. Discussions were had on what was happening legally and what the scope of the city is as far as handling these issues and what, if any, citations had or could be issued. Also discussed were properties where mowing needs to take place and Heisler had updated all on one property where there had been a need for mowing the grass that appeared to have gone beyond the 12 inches the city allows.

At the last council meeting held on July 6, Heisler had said the council needed to look at having the Public Safety Committee meet two times a month instead of the one time they currently meet. Committee meetings are called by the committee chairpersons and notice of these meetings are posted by City Hall and are open to the public.

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Mostly sunny. High 94F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Mainly sunny. High 97F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.

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