09-03-02 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kathi Pelnar, ACO, noted that she picks up as many dogs with collars as without. She pointed out that snow load can change effectiveness of an invisible fence. Council member Armstrong asked if the dog owner received a guarantee from the invisible fence company. Council member Dunn said the invisible fencing doesn't keep other dogs from coming into their yard. Council member Siedow asked if we are here to discuss existing laws that are being broken or are we here to change existing laws? Council member DeLapp explained he received calls, as well as had other Council members, on what happened on that particular occasion with the Animal Control Officer and asked if the complaint was followed through. Mike Smith, former Lake Elmo ACO, reported he did go out to the Ziertman property and wrote a ticket for "at large" and one for dog with no license. Mike told Rod Sessing that if he got a license for the dog he would dismiss the "no dog license" ticket, but he would not dismiss the dog at large for the Sessings. Mr. Ziertman explained he asked the City for information on how this was followed through and found out that Rod Sessing had to go to court. Therefore, Steve was going to take the day off from work to attend. Steve Ziertman said he talked to Attorney Shoeberg, who said he received a call stating this was a family matter and should not get involved. Mr. Ziertman had a tape recording of the conversation he had with Attorney Shoeberg. Attorney Shoeberg explained he reviewed the information provided. Mr. Sessing told him he replaced all the wiring and fixed the fence problem. Shoeberg looked at this as a one time incident. He did not receive any information from the City that this was a family matter. Shoeberg thought he knew what Mr. Ziertman was referring to. After this incident occurred, he got a report from the City on another issue, but it had nothing to do with the dog "at large" ticket. Mike Smith asked why this has become an issue when he has written many tickets for dog "at large" and "no license". Was this because a ticket was written to a Planning Commission member? Smith stated he had heard Mr. Sessing sent an email to the City Administrator asking her to intervene between him and Attorney Shoeberg. Smith said he was told by the City Administrator that he was interfering into a family affair and taking sides. Smith said he had warned Mrs. Sessing, a year before, that her rottweiler was out chasing someone. His policy has been to give them one warning, and within a year's time if he has done it again, he issues a ticket. Administrator Kueffner stated for the record, she never received an e-mail from Rod Sessing, nor did she ever ask Mike Smith or direct Kevin Shoeberg to dismiss the ticket. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 3, 2002 2