County Commission Considers Animal Ordinance Changes
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
Highlights from the June 5 meeting of the Dade County Board of Commissioners were the start of tax season, discussion of animal control ordinances, and positive movement on several large grants that the county is pursuing.
First, the commission appointed Jeff Poston to the Board of Assessors to complete Sarah Moore’s unexpired term. Moore wished to resign from the board, and Poston expressed interest in serving. Don Townsend (county executive) noted that Poston will likely be reappointed for the next term which begins in 2026.
The commission reappointed Donna Street to the Dade County Public Library Board of Trustees and appointed Brandy Clark to the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) Board. Townsend noted that Sandy Pullen’s term on the DFCS board ended, and she did not wish to be reappointed. DFCS board members must meet certain career-related criteria, and Clark’s experience working at Dade Health and Rehabilitation qualifies her.
Next, Paula Duvall (chief appraiser) spoke about the 2025 assessment notices, reminding everyone that these are not tax bills; they are just the notice of each property’s assessed value. She noted that sending out the assessments was delayed this year because of Georgia House Bills 581 and 92.
Property owners have 45 days from the date of the notice to make an appeal. The notices are set to be sent on June 20, making August 4 the last day to appeal. Duvall encouraged property owners to be specific in their appeals: “The more specific you are on your appeal, the better decision we can make. Some people come in and write, ‘It’s too high.’ I can’t do anything with that.”
She said that the tax office did not increase the baseline dollar per square foot, but it did increase the value of porches, decks, and patios. Also, rural land values went up by two percent in the valley and on Lookout Mountain and by two-and-a-half percent on Sand Mountain. Duvall said these aren’t large increases, but the market is still up. “We are still seeing sales come through that we just can’t compete with, we can’t keep up with.”
Later in the meeting, Townsend covered the FY26 budget cycle. The county will hold public meetings on June 20 and June 27 at 10 a.m. in the county commission room to review the proposed budget.
The proposed revenue is $15,719,000, an increase of $397,000 from last year’s budget. Townsend noted that the budget is not yet balanced—proposed expenses total $16,069,000. He said that insurance is, once again, the primary driver of increased costs. The county’s insurance went up eight percent, but Townsend said the county did not pass any of this increase on to employees.
Moving on, the commission approved the updated Fire Protection and Rescue Services Agreement. As discussed at last month’s meeting, Bill Pullen (North Dade commissioner) recommended further clarity about what medical care fire departments can provide (which depends on training/certifications).
The relevant wording in the agreement reads: “[Fill-in-the-blank] Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue, Inc., shall permit only those full-time employees, part-time employees, or volunteers currently licensed by the State of Georgia Department of Public Health Office of EMS and Trauma (“licensed medical provider”) to provide pre-hospital medical care consistent with that licensure. All pre-hospital medical care shall be performed only under the direction of the Medical Director of the Dade County Emergency Services and in a manner consistent with the Medical Director’s medical protocols, as may be amended from time to time.”
The commission then discussed at length the modifications to the county’s animal control ordinances as proposed by Emily Richards (animal facility manager) and the Trenton-Dade Animal Center (TDAC) committee. No vote was taken. The commissioners agreed to send any concerns to Townsend and return to the topic next month.
Richards explained that she did not remove anything from the current ordinances but added three key points: a tagging license section, a breeding license section, and a medical care section.
Of medical care, she explained that pet owners will be responsible for basic safety and care of animals. She gave two examples: If your dog is hit by a car, you are responsible for its medical care or euthanasia; i.e. you cannot leave your injured dog by the side of the road to die. Also, a doghouse should not have nails sticking out that could injure your dog. She said that this section is not intended to require pet owners to pay for expensive surgeries or buy the most expensive pet supplies. Rather, it’s intended to ensure responsible pet ownership.
Of the breeding license, Richards noted that this is already a state requirement, but because the Georgia Department of Agriculture can’t keep up with enforcing this law, she recommends a county ordinance. She said, “This is not a ban on all breeding or all accidental pregnancies; that’s unreasonable. This is someone continuously and commercially doing it.”
Of the tagging license, Richards explained that the current ordinances only address vicious dogs, not nuisance dogs, so she recommended adjustments to cover both situations. She explained, “I understand it is not feasible for every person in this county to have their dog in a pen or on a tie at all times…but this does hold owners accountable for if their animal does wander. If your neighbor’s dog comes into your yard and it tears up your garden, they are held accountable.”
She gave an example of a dog (and its owner) on Sand Mountain who would not need to be held accountable: The dog likes to visit Mountaintop Market where store customers like to give him food, but he later returns home. “He doesn’t cause problems, he’s not a nuisance, so he doesn’t need to be punished for going to get some attention.”
However, dogs like this that are either allowed to wander or that escape often will need to be licensed with the county under the proposed ordinances. This way, the county knows who to call if the dog is injured or does become a nuisance.
Phillip Hartline (Sand Mountain commissioner) asked how much the fees will be, but the TDAC committee has yet to set the fees. He explained his reason for asking: Citizens are already funding TDAC through taxes but also through these fees. “The citizens, they’re already paying for all of it, period,” he said.
Richards corrected Hartline, saying that TDAC will be receiving grant money. She also explained that it’s more expensive for the government to house a dog that doesn’t have an ID than to have it tagged in the first place. In other words, pet owners can pay the small fee for tagging or they can pay to house untagged dogs via taxes.
Melissa Bradford (Lookout Mountain commissioner) added that county resources will be used when animal control officers pick up a dangerous, nuisance, or injured dog, so it’s reasonable to have the owners of these animals pay a small fee.
The commissioners also touched on the state law about shooting dogs. Bob Woods (South Dade commissioner) said, “God forbid one of my dogs gets hit and has three broken legs, is dying rapidly. Even though we’re not supposed to go shoot dogs, I’m laying it on the table here…Do I have to then take it to the vet to get it put down? Or, I got a pistol, I go home, boom, and go bury the dog. Is that still illegal, when you’re putting a dog out of its misery?”
Bradford said, yes, it is against the state law, but in her opinion, Dade County isn’t interested in arresting anyone for doing this. However, Pullen said, “Just because you don’t think they’d do it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t do it if they’re driving by or your neighbor is looking over the fence.”
Regarding the entire topic of animal ordinances, Hartline said, “My biggest question on all of this is, by whose opinion?…There’s a whole lot of interpretation and opinions in this. To me, it needs to be more cut and dry. You’re almost getting into a leash law in the county, and I’m not good with that at all.” Richards and Bradford said they aren’t in favor of a leash law either, but the tagging license is not the same as a leash law.
Later in the meeting, during his commissioner report, Woods said that the committee wants to hear public input about all TDAC matters, so now is the time to speak up while decisions are still being made. Essentially, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Moving on, Townsend reported that the county is seeking bids for the elections building construction. A mandatory pre-proposal conference was held on June 10. Townsend said that the reason for this conference was, “You get somebody from Texas or get all these [contractors from other places], it may cause the bids to go through the roof. We hope that there’s a local person interested in it.”
Next, Bradford asked about the process to change the two-way stop at Plum Nelly/Gray Road and Memorial Drive to a four-way stop due to an increase in accidents (reportedly because of increased development in the area), some of which have been serious. Robin Rogers (county attorney) advised the commission that the Dade County Sheriff’s Office should take a look at the intersection and bring a suggestion back to the county.
Bradford also noted that the road crew could take a look to make sure the right-of-ways are cleared enough for visibility. She asked any citizens who disagree with this project to call her so that the county is aware of objections before completing the process.
During his report, Townsend brought up the land disturbance permit, explaining that the county has had it for years, but he wants to draw fresh attention to it. He reminded property owners that when disturbing more than an acre of land, they are supposed to apply for this permit.
Two of the items on the checklist for approval are: a copy of the notice of intent that has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Division and a hard copy of an erosion, sedimentation, and pollution control plan with a design professionals’ seal and signature.
Townsend then reported about positive movement on several large grants. Thanks in large part to the work of the county’s part-time grant writer, Kathy Ragon, we might receive grants related to food assistance, paving, new ambulances, and (potentially in future years) affordable housing through the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH).
The county will be publishing press releases about these grants as they progress, so keep an eye out for further details. Regarding the paving grants, see the press release in this issue of the Sentinel.
