Attention, Hanover County pet owners: Is your animal a nuisance?
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday adopted an ordinance — effective Sept. 1 — that defines animals (wild, domestic, companion or exotic) as public nuisances if certain acts happen at least twice.
"It may not be the best thing ever, but it's something we can get a good start on and give animal control some leverage to where they can do some good," said Beaverdam District Supervisor Aubrey M. Stanley.
The county created the ordinance after recent reports of dogs roaming at large and attacks on other animals.
The board voted 5-0 to pass the ordinance. Mechanicsville District Supervisor Deborah B. Winans and Henry District Supervisor Charles D. McGhee were absent.
The ordinance says a dog can't be deemed a nuisance based on its breed, and it also says that ownership of a particular breed is not prohibited.
A warning will be issued for the first offense; a summons will be issued for a second.
If an animal is determined to be a nuisance, the general district court may order the animal to be confined or take some other action to curtail the nuisance; the court may also impose a civil penalty up to $250.
A key component of the ordinance, said assistant county attorney Rebecca Randolph, is that all owners should exercise proper care and control of their animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance.
"The large majority of animal owners already do this," she said.
During a public hearing, speakers overwhelmingly favored the passage of the ordinance. Some said they live in fear of aggressive dogs that run free in the county.
Supervisors adopt mission, vision, values
Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt mission, vision and value statements that will serve as a model for the overall county strategic plan that is being developed and will be presented to the board no later than May 2012.
"It helps us in discussing and illustrating to customers and employees just where the county is intending to go, what we're trying to focus on and what we need to pay attention to," said County Administrator Cecil R. "Rhu" Harris.
The new mission statement now reads: "To be a premier community by providing superior service through creativity, innovation and sound financial practices."
The new vision statement is: "Hanover County — a place inspired by its people, tradition and spirit, will be the premier community for people and businesses to achieve their full potential."
Hanover's values will focus on integrity, accountability, respect and inclusiveness.
Residents support Flying Squirrels
Nearly 15 percent of preseason sales for the Richmond Flying Squirrels' 2010 inaugural season came from Hanover County, Todd Parnell, the team's vice president and chief operating officer told Hanover's supervisors Wednesday.
Preseason sales include season ticket orders, mini-plans, Internet and phone orders but not walk up sales, he said, noting that he doesn't have figures for the current season.
"There are plenty of families in Hanover County that are deciding when they get home from the office to head down to The Diamond and catch a baseball game," Parnell said.
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