By Evan Merrill
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
The Midway City Council inched closer to an agreement on
lethal trapping, agreed to apply for the old Weisenberger Mill bridge and
approved a time for trick-or-treating in Midway at its meeting Monday night.
The council has agreed to not outlaw lethal traps despite
the pleas of South Turner street resident Sarah Gilbert made following the death
of her cat, Bunny Kitty, in a trap set for groundhogs.
“We felt that could lead to people using poison,” said
Council Member Dan Roller, reporting on deliberations of the Finance, Ordinance
and Policy Committee, which he chairs.
“The research we did
on poison is, animals that are poisoned often then leave the location,” causing
the death of additional animals who eat them, Roller said. “Most the research we found
determined the legislation that relates to this came about because of animals
that were killed in illegal traps, many of which were on leashes at the time.”
Roller said the
committee recommended enforcing
responsible trapping, in which homeowners or businesses can be held liable for
the harming or death of resident animal. He proposed an ordinance that would
say, “The removal or eviction of any animal from a property in the City of
Midway shall not result in the harming or death of a domestic animal.”
This recommendation would not apply to government animal-control authorities, and a copy of the regulation would be provided to
individuals and businesses applying for city business licenses when they indicate
their business deals with the removal or eviction of animals. The trapper who killed Bunny Kitty did not have such a license.
Roller said the proposal specifies domestic animals because
not doing so would disallow a mousetrap. The specifics of the ordinance, such
as punishment for violation, are still up for debate.
Council Member Libby Warfield asked Roller what the penalty
for violation would be. Roller said none is proposed, since “pets are
priceless,” and people who lose them would still have “legal recourse.”
Council Member Steven Craig argued it’s difficult to hold
homeowners responsible for a pet getting into a trap on their own
property. “So if a homeowner sets a trap
for a rodent and a domesticated cat comes on to their property and gets into
the trap, why is the property owner responsible for the domesticated cat when
the cat came onto his property?” Craig asked.
“It’s not quite time for the debate yet,” Mayor Grayson
Vandegrift said. At Vandegrift’s suggestion, Craig moved that the proposal be
put into ordinance form by city attorney Phil Moloney.
Bonds, bridges, Halloween and more
The council heard first reading of an ordinance to issue
bonds totaling up to $50 million for the building of the Lakeshore Learning
Materials distribution center, which is expected to bring 262 new workers to
the city.
The council also
passed on second reading an ordinance for refinancing of bonds for the
Providence Montessori school of Lexington. The refinancing is strictly for a
better rate on the bonds and the city has no liability, Vandegrift said. The
council held a public hearing on the
bonds just before the meeting, and no one attended, Vandegrift said.
The bridge over Lee’s Branch in Walter Bradley Park is
complete except for some minor work, Vandegrift said. The city will hold a
ribbon cutting event on Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. If it’s rained out, it’ll be held the
next day at 2 p.m.
The council agreed to apply to the state for the
Weisenberger Mill bridge, which the state is replacing. “If we apply for the bridge, we’ll get it,”
said Vandegrift. The favored location is
over a marshy area in the park.
The council approved Vandegrift’s suggestion that trick-or-treat in Midway be held Oct. 31,
from 6 to 8 p.m.
The council also granted an encroachment
permit for a driveway to be built at 212 South Turner St.
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