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Surgoinsville approves ordinance banning cats at large

SURGOINSVILLE - Surgoinsville's new cat regulations were approved Monday without a word of discussion, a month after several cat owners expressed concern to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen that their cats would be targeted by the animal control officer under the new regulations.

Last month the BMA tabled an ordinance that would have included cats with other animals in the town's animal control ordinance. Most of the people who objected to the ordinance last month noted that it would be unrealistic to expect cats to be governed under the regulations used for other animals such as dogs and livestock.

The new proposal presented Monday added two new sections to the animal ordinance which specifically address cats.

One section requires cats to be vaccinated. Cats may wear vaccination tags but aren't required to.

But the ordinance states that if the animal control officer asks a cat owner for proof of vaccination, it must be provided. Also, if a cat bites a person and there is no proof of vaccination, the cat can be confined until it is determined if it is rabid.

The second section is likely what will be of most interest to Surgoinsville cat owners. It states: "It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to permit any cat owned by him or under his control to run at large within the corporate limits."

It further states the owner of a cat running at large can be prosecuted, and: "Any cat found running at large within the corporate limits may be seized by any animal control officer, code enforcement or police officer."

The main concern of most people who spoke out against the cat ordinance in October was that the town will be going on a cat hunt.

But Mayor Hanes Cooper said after Monday's meeting that nothing will really change. He said the purpose of the ordinance is to allow the town to prosecute the owners of cats that cause damage or become a nuisance to their neighbors.

"We didn't have anything on the books addressing cats," Cooper said. "That's all this is about. We're not going after people's cats."

The ordinance was approved by a 6-0 vote.

In other business Monday the BMA:

• Heard a request from Alderman Tim Hoss asking that a lawsuit filed by Alderman Charles Otis Lawson in 2004 be litigated, as opposed to a proposed $15,000 out-of-court settlement being considered by the mayor.

Lawson filed the suit against the town and former Town Administrator Tim Tate in 2004 after what he considered a slanderous and damaging statement was included in the minutes for the Dec. 8, 2003, BMA meeting.

The minutes stated that a former town firefighter "addressed the board and stated that Alderman Otis Lawson had been asking questions about him around town. (The firefighter) further stated that if Mr. Lawson was doing so for the reasons of some homosexual activity, he was not interested."

The lawsuit, which was drafted by Lawson's attorney, Phillip Boyd, alleges that Tate knew at the time of the publication of the minutes that statement was false. The lawsuit claims that the off-color remark was included in the minutes with the intent to harm Lawson's reputation and standing in the community.

Hoss told the board he feels that the case should be litigated by the Tennessee Municipal League, which carries the town's liability insurance, and not settled by Cooper with funds from the general fund.

Cooper told the Times-News after the meeting he doesn't anticipate a resolution of the lawsuit prior to the December BMA meeting. He noted, however, that the town's TML insurance includes a $100,000 deductible, so whatever settlement or award Lawson might receive would be paid by the town up to that amount, and not by insurance.

• Heard a report from Fire Chief Jason Johnson asking local residents to remember that they must obtain a fire permit from City Hall before conducting any burning within the town.

• Heard a report that the town's Christmas parade will be Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. with lineup to begin at 12:30 p.m.

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