Mt. Vernon Board of Aldermen hear counted citizen pushback on tethering laws

The issue of how to handle a tethered Mt. Vernon canine was one again a central matter of discussion at the board of aldermen meeting on Sept. 8.
 
For many weeks now, the dog has been a recurring issue at city government meetings as citizens have shown up to demand changes in tethering laws as a result. 
 
The canine in question in Mt. Vernon is reportedly a husky according to multiple testimonies from natives. The dog, they said, had been left outside, tethered to its dog house all day, every day for more than a month. 
 
The dog, they argue, is double-coated and therefore not able to withstand the heat that has recently set in on the area this summer. As the temperature continues to increase, so too have the efforts of a few citizens in the fight for reform in city code.
 
According to Haymes, the police have visited the property on multiple occasions and when they arrived, the dog had food, water, shade and seemed in good spirits. A few citizens disagreed, arguing that it was too hot for a husky, which is native to colder climates, to be left outside all day.
 
Currently, city code states that a dog may not be permanently tethered. Opponents, such as Tiki Hunter, argue that this law is vague and difficult to enforce. At the meeting they advocated for the city to change the code and, in doing so, add to the tethering law by adding a maximum temperature clause.
 
“It’s shaded, it has water in the bowl,” said Haymes. “The only thing we could potentially use… is that [the owner] exceeded the time limit on tethering.’
 
Hunter and some citizen participants also argued for a tethering law more in-line with the laws of neighboring communities. In a town such as Aurora, they argued, the tethering law allows an animal to be tied up outside for no more than 30 minutes.
 
Haymes said that the board will potentially consider changing the ordinance laws but no decision was made at the meeting.
 
City administrator report
The first item addressed in department reports came from City Administrator Rob Harrington. Harrington brought the board a recommendation to raise the pay of officers in the city, part of a continuing plan to attract more to Mt. Vernon. The board approved the new rates which puts an officer with no experience at $26.73 per hour or $55,598 annually. 
 
The board also moved to raise the pay of existing officers within the department as the current least experienced officers will now be making $26.98 per hour. Officer Thomas Taylor will make $28.24 per hour.
 
Public Works
The board approved a motion to map, flush and test fire hydrants in the city. According to Public Works Director Dustin Davis, the city has 318 documented fire hydrants but new hydrants have been added since then that have not yet been accounted for. The budgeted item will be completed by Backflow Doctor LLC at a price of $38,070.
 
Proclamation
The mayor also issued a proclamation designating the time of Sept. 17 to Sept. 23 as Constitution Week. The proclamation is an annual collaboration between the city and the Elk Horn Prairie chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.