Sheffield to take a bite
out of vicious dogs
By Kim Parker
-
news@bcrnews.com
SHEFFIELD — Vicious dogs were the hot topic for the Sheffield Village Board.
Two separate complaints, one filed with the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department, one with Sheffield Village Trustee Mary Ann Cernovich has brought the issue of animal control to the front burner.
Both residents complained of a “loose dog” running around their neighborhoods, baring teeth, hair raised. One of the residents, Ryan Bell, was present at Monday’s meeting, and he said he was at his “wits end” as to what can be done.
“It isn’t safe for my child, wife to go out. They could not leave our home safely, until the dog was gone,” he said.
When Bell contacted the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department, he said he was told he could file a complaint with the village officer in charge. Police Chief Todd Marquez did receive the information but not until after the fact.
Mayor Bill Rosenow made it clear on more than one occasion during the meeting that “residents have to file a complaint in order to see that something is done. Without a complaint, there is nothing our police chief can do.”
Marquez stressed the same.
“I can only do so much without a complaint. Residents need to file, so the owners of the dog can be cited and ordered to court,” he said.
To also combat the issue, the board decided to invite Bureau County Animal Control Officer Scott Robbins to the Nov. 2 board meeting to discuss the village’s needs and the options animal control has to offer us.
In other business, Jeffery Snyder, an engineer for Chamlin & Associates of Peru, was present to discuss any ongoing concerns the board may have with upcoming projects. He inquired as to how the village was doing with the collection of income surveys that were distributed to village residents over the past month.
Rosenow said while quite a few surveys have come in, there are still several unaccounted for. Rosenow, as well as all board members, has been going door to door, delivering as many as possible. If a resident didn’t receive a survey, they should call the mayor, a village board member or the village clerk. All surveys must be turned in by Oct. 31. Residents can either place them in the water payment drop off box, or can get in touch with a board member so the survey can be picked up.
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