HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 09.25.2017 Emergency Services Committee Meeting 9/25/2017
Members Present: Rick Poehls,Tom Nelson, Pat Kimmet, Bruce McGee
Others Present: Rick Musson, Brent Peters
The meeting was opened at 5:30pm by Chairman Poehls
1. Public Input,there was none.
2. Approval of the Emergency Services meeting of 7/24/2017 motion was made by Tom Nelson
and Seconded by Doug Poehls.
3. Update on ambulance. Fire Chief Brent Peters noted that it appeared that the county ambulance
service seemed to be on hold right now as there has not been much communication between
the City of Laurel and Yellowstone County lately. Brent Discussed the new ambulance needs
decals and some other items and will need to be outfitted with equipment. He stated he
believed they had a$2,500.00 grant to help pay for some of these needs.The committee
discussed some of the stress on the ambulance service from calls for lift assists and transport
calls.
4. Fire Department.There was no discussion.
5. Police Department,feral cat issue.There was a letter distributed,from a resident on Forrest Ave
where the feral cat problem exists who was unable to make the meeting,and put into the
record. Dawn Klein of 201 Forrest Ave spoke to the committee.She stated that the feral cat
problem is becoming much more than a nuisance and she is worried for the health of her own
two cats she owns.There are several dead cats in the block she lives on.She has seen new born
cats that have not lived but a day or two.The area around her home smells like a litter box and
worse at times.A letter from Vicki Brester of the Animal Welfare League that was previously
given to the City Council was also introduced.Tom Nelson spoke of the issue that this was
becoming a health issue and the City is responsible for the health and well-being of the city's
citizens.Some of these people have expressed that they are to the point to where they want to
move but are un-able to show their homes due to the smell.The Police Chief Rick Musson stated
that he was not aware of the magnitude that this problem had escalated to and he will work
with the city administration to address this as quickly as possible. He said he will work with Vicki
from the Animal Welfare League to eliminate those cats which do not belong to someone in the
neighborhood under the current animal ordinance.
6. Other: Doug Poehls mentioned that there was quite a bit of equipment building up at the city
shop and was wondering about another auction. Rick Musson stated that the last auction was
about a year ago and thought that holding an auction every year at least right now may be more
often that what is necessary. Rick Musson thought every two years may better serve us and that
the spring or summer months would be more appropriate for this function. He will look at
holding on next spring/summer.
7. Meeting adjourned 6:30pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Thomas Nelson
My name is Candace Dumproff and I have lived at 202 Forrest Ave since December 2009. 1 was trying to
make it to this meeting but due to a death in the family, I am unable to attend.
Since residing on Forrest Ave,we have always had issues with feral cats.The problem is that cats exist in
basically two forms.There's the domesticated housecat and beloved pet, and then there's the stray,or
feral,cat which is often,for all intents and purposes,a nuisance wildlife species. I've observed many
feral cats, living under houses, in yards,junkyards that people call their backyard in our neighborhood,
and other unsavory places,and their behavior is no different than that of raccoons,opossums,or rats. In
fact,these cats are dirtier and more aggressive.
In the past few years we have seen an increase in the feral cat population.We have had damage done to
our then new 2015 Ford F-150 by them trying to jump up on the hood and losing their grip and clawing
up the paint on the hood.We have had them live under the neighbor's house, had them given birth in
my yard numerous times,and they constantly defecate and urinate on everything. Recently the cats
that were born this summer didn't even make it 12 hours before they died.They didn't die because they
were healthy.
Stray cats are leaving droppings and urine in the areas they live,and will of course scratch and dig. Stray
cats are a source of fatal and non-fatal diseases transmittable to humans and domestic cats, including
rabies, plague,ringworm,toxoplasmosis,cat scratch fever,allergies,feline leukemia,feline distemper
and secondary bacterial infections. I have walked out onto my sidewalks and my deck to find diarrhea
and vomit on top my BBQ grill that we used to cook with. My concern is with these feral cats and the
diseases they carry who has to get sick before someone does something about this?
On one occasion, I called the Laurel Police Department about the cats living under my neighbor's house.
I was told by dispatch that there was nothing that could be done as Laurel does not have an animal
control officer and there is no city ordinance against cats. Now here lies the problem,we have residents
on the street that feed these"Stay Cats"and provide them shelter in sheds,trailers,and boxes. Now if
you ask me, possession is nine-tenths of the law.Since they provide shelter and feed these so-called
strays,why aren't they concerned their animals and be held to the same as any other animal owner. If
there was a "Stray Dog" population the city would take care of the problem immediately. On another
occasion after witnessing 10 cats in my trees and my front yard I contacted Code Enforcement. I was
once again told that Laurel does not have an ordinance against cats and the was nothing they could do.
Last week a complaint was made by my neighbor and when the police assessed the situation they gave
us permission to live trap these cats.Who is going to pay for these traps?Who is going to remove these
aggressive animals from these traps and what do we do with them?Apparently,the neighbor was told
to just not shoot them in the city limits. I will not endanger myself of my family by handling these cats.
We also have neighbors that do not take care of their properties and these cats have taken up residency
in their over grown yards and junk.There are dead cats there and no one seems to care to get rid of
them.They didn't die of old age,they died from disease.There is one dead cat that was reported last
week and to my knowledge it is still there.Why??
I believe it is either the property owners that are feeding and housing the cat's responsibility to get this
cleaned up. I also believe it is the city's responsibility to do the same as the city has fostered this
behavior and now it is way out of control. I would like to see this issue resolved as quickly as possible.
I am free to discuss this further at a later date if needed. I appreciate your time.
Candace Dumproff