Dog license fees have been decreased, back to their pre-May 9th price, by the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners. At their meeting Wednesday afternoon, Commissioner Bob Knoblauch made a motion to the board to “… have the fee schedule of the Animal Control Ordinance return to the fee schedule prior to the action approved on May 9th, 2018, for the 2019 license year.” The motion was seconded by Commissioner Chris Wittenbach, and was approved by an 8-1 vote.
The one “no” vote was cast Commissioner David Stimpson. He voted that way because a subcommittee of the Criminal Justice Committee is scheduled to meet this Friday at 10am at the Old County Courthouse to discuss the fee schedule. Commissioner Stimpson wanted to wait until both committees made their recommendations to the board.
When talking to WLEN News after the meeting, Commissioner Knoblauch said his reasoning behind making the motion on Wednesday was for purposes of the county treasurer getting tax bills in order for 2018. If both committees met when they are scheduled to, and the Board of Commissioners was to revisit the fee schedule at their next meeting, the treasurer would not have enough time to send out the proper tax bills if fees were to change.
A second reason was that many of Knoblauch’s constituents were voicing their concerns at township board meetings across his district, which includes Palmyra, Blissfield , Deerfield, Ogden, Riga, and Ridgeway Townships
The amended ordinance adopted on May 9th of this year replaced a law passed in 1976. It was approved by a 6-2 vote. Commissioners Chris Wittenbach and Ralph Tillotson were the “no” votes.
Dog licenses cost $15 from December 1st to the end of February for spayed or neutered dogs and $30 for unaltered dogs. After February, the license fees increase to $30 for fixed dogs and $60 for unfixed.
It affects places in the county that do not have their own animal control ordinances. Violations of the ordinance would be misdemeanors punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
The video of the full meeting is posted below. The motion was made by Commissioner Knoblauch at about the 16 minute mark.
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