Commission OKs 90-day provision to enforce kennel statute

Lincoln County Commissioners have approved a 90-day emergency ordinance that permits a penalty for operating a kennel without a license or an unsanitary kennel, an action requested by Environmental Health Director Kathi Hooper.

Hooper requested the emergency ordinance during last Wednesday’s Commissioners meeting so her office could act on a breeder whose facility did not meet county criteria. The 90-day emergency provision would allow both the penalty for the breeder — but also give Hooper’s office time to rectify shortcomings in the overall county standards for dog regulations that, while outlining guidelines, do not specify penalties for those violations.

The emergency ordinance both allowed a penalty of not more than a $500 fine and not more than six months in jail, and it allows an animal-control officer to enter those premises to inspect the kennel-breeder for animal-health concerns.

“This will allow us to take action now while we rewrite the ordinance to reflect the changes,” Hooper said after the emergency statute was approved.

Commissioner Ron Downey made the motion to accept Hooper’s recommendation and Commissioner Marianne Roose seconded the motion. Commissioner Tony Berget did not vote on the measure as he was in Polson attending a water-rights meeting.

Hooper said the existing ordinance, which was written in 1973, was in need of revision, updating beyond just adding the penalty.

“These 90 days will give us time to get make the necessary changes,” she said, although she admitted it probably will not take her office that long to make the revisions.

The need for the revision comes from a Lincoln County man who currently is breeding mastiffs, a large-breed dog.

As the man had yet to be charged, his name was not divulged. However, he is expected to be charged this week.

In other action, the Commissioners heard from Emergency Management Director Vic White who presented a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan. The plan, which outlays a course of action for various disasters ranging from floods to earthquakes to dam breaches, was approved by the Commissioners.

White said city councils of Libby, Troy and Eureka still must approve the comprehensive plan.