City council takes itself out of dangerous dog appeals
Following a public hearing, the second reading of a dangerous dog ordinance was approved by Glencoe City Council on Monday.
The aim is to amend the existing ordinance. The amendment would require the police chief to name a third, independent party to act as a judge in cases involving an appeal of the city labeling a canine as a dangerous dog.
An ordinance change requires three readings.
City Attorney Mark Ostlund said the current way of handling dangerous dog appeals puts council members and public appointees “in a tough position” of being both prosecutors and judges.
The only comments at the public hearing came from Marie Thurn, who cautioned that dangerous dog investigations need to put all things into context before issuing citations. She said when the officer investigates complaints, “look at what caused the dog to act the way it did,” Thurn stressed.
(For the complete story, see the April 17 print edition of The Chronicle.)