The URL can be used to link to this page

9.a) Request for Refund of Animal Impound Fees ��. �_� � RECEIVED ��yzo�zoso ��_ � �:: raTo CITY OF SCANDIA Dear Ms�lilbert, Please forward this letter to tt�e City Council fortheir reference as part of the materiais for revEewing this matter at tonight's council meeting. Fourteen days after this incident and multiple requests,we did receive Ms Reid's report ofJuly 7,2010 and your Council Agenda Report prepared on luly 12, 2010. We will not be attending tonight's touncil meeting as we understand Ms Reid will not be attending and we sQe by her report that she has not formally reported her actions of July 2"d. Without her presence, we cannot ask her to verify the numerous unreported actions of that day in front of the Counci�. After receiving in the mail and reading your BackgrQund and Recommendatio�to the council on this matter and reading Sherrill Reid's report of luly 5"`, it's clearthat neither you or Sherrill are communicating to the board ail of Ms Reid's comments and actions related to this incEdent. !taiked to Ms Reid today and asked her why she did not report all that she told me on the phone that day. Her only comment was that she didn't know"all the stor�'.As a public service provider, f would request ' from the City to put in writing what Ms Reid rneans by this statement. We are especially concerned about Ms. Reid's innuendo given the dama�in�comments she rnade about rhe citizen who caur�ht our do�s and citv staff and the new policv on our Julv 2nd call. This after she apologized to me twice on the phone on Juiy 2nd for her lack of duty in not trying to call the numbers on the fags herself,not to me�#ion that she acknowledged knowing full well they where our dogs. As difticult of financiai times that we're in,and essentially being forced to pay$250.00 after a first offense frorn dogs loose and non threatening as a result of itlegal fireworics in our neighborhood fln the luly 4"'weekend,we ask you to reconsider tt�e fine and request a formal apology from Ms Reid to us and to the gaod neighbpr who caught our dogs. Sincerely, � �,� ' . �� Eric Meyer l'd L96£££� l99 ae�eW�!�3 dE5�Z0 OL OZ Inf . i Meeting Date: 7/20/2010 Agenda Item: �' � City Council Agenda Report City of Scandia 14727 209`h St. North Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274 Action Requested: Consider a request from Eric&Nancy Meyer for a refund of dog impound fees. Deadline/ Timeline: N/A Background: • Two dogs owned by the Meyers were impounded at Hillcrest Animal Hospital on Friday, July 2. The City impound fees ($200.00) and Hillcrest's administrative and boarding fees ($50.74) totaled $250.71, which the Meyers paid to retrieve their dogs. They are requesting that the City refund this money to them, plus an additional $25.00. • The accounts by Mr. Meyers and Ms. Reid vary slightly. I have spoken to both of them. It appears that the dogs were indeed running at large. Though not required by the ordinance,there were attempts to contact the owners to avoid the need to impound the dogs. When this was not successful, Ms. Reid was called and transported the dogs to the impound facility. • Mr. Meyer contacted City staff on Friday, July 2 and requested that staff order Hillcrest to waive their fees for release of the dogs. He was informed that staff does not have that authority, that he would need to pay the fees to retrieve the animals, and address any further requests to the Council. • The City is contractually obligated to pay Ms. Reid her fee for this case ($90.00.) Hillcrest is entitled to its fees ($50.71)per its contract. Hillcrest will be remitting the $200.00 impound fee to the City. • On Tuesday, July 6, one of the Meyer's dogs was found to be at large,by a different neighbor. They contacted city staff and we assisted them in making contact with the Meyers and returning the dog, thus avoiding the need for additional animal control services. Recommendation: As it appears that the ordinance was followed, I do not recommend refunding any portion of the impound charges. Page 1 of 2 07/12/10 s _ Attachments/ • Letter received July 6, 2010 from Eric &Nancy Meyer, 22990 Materials provided: Mallard Avenue • Report dated July 5, 2010 from Sherrill Reid Animal Control Contact(s): Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator (meyer dog impound fee) Page 2 of 2 07/12/10 Jul 06 1011:35a Eric Meyer 651 433 3957 p.2 Dear Ms. Hurlburt, On luly ir at about 12 noon,I received a ca11 from the H illtop Animal Hospitai in Wiapfewood that they had 2 of our dogs resulting in impound by the City of Scandia. 1 was informed bY them thet iF would cost$250 to selease the dogs.You can imagine how sho�ked we were at the amount mandated to pay tar their release and the distance our dogs had been taken. According to Cheryl,city dog catcher,the nesident who had the dogs had tried our home phone and cell phone several times, tried looking up our address by pt�one number on the internet and had no luck reaching us.The residertt claimed both phones where showing disconnected. Within 1,5 hrs of the City getting the call,we got a call from the Hilitop Animal Hospital in Maplewood,without any diffieulty to reach us. We where home and had our cell phones working the entire time Cheryl said the neighbor was trying to reach us,no calls in!D,no messages,nothing on either phone from Cheryl or the resident.For Lhe record,Cheryl gave us the address af#he resideM,we do not know who the resident is or have ever had any dealings with this pe�son. Here's what Cheryl also told us the about tfie call: 1. Cheryl admits she never tried to call either of our numbers. 8ut,"she shouldn't have trusted the woman►vho had the dogs because she knows the waman and she's kind of strange." 2. Cheryl also said she recognized our dogs and even knew where we lived!She's been to our farm twice when we've had unidentified lost dugs at our place that we couldn't find the owners. 3. Cheryl also said,"I shouldn't have 6elieved her when she said she tried both home phone and cell phone and got disconnerted messages.lt's doubtful she could mess up on two lines." Further, based on other tommentary from Cheryl,there is strain wit�the city of Scandia on the new or�inance and with individuals at the City that we won't comment on at this time. There is obviously a larger prob(em going on and we are being caught in the mlddle.Cheryl did apalogize as she said she normally calls the owner if the dogs have an ID. Frankly,this was a huge hassle and was handled poorly at best.lNe do not think it's reasona6le that we should be fined any amount,in fact the distress and inconvenierxe of the whole matter should result in the City paying us for our time and trouble and having to deal with the personality conflicts of the city employees. Our perspective is this. 1. This is the first time our dogs have estaped their kennel and 6een found stray. The dogs broke out of the kennel that morning resuhing from a neighbor shooting ofF echo bomb,commercial grade firework over our house that morning! Is there an ordinance against commerdal explosives being discharged over your home in Scandia? 2. On top of the outrageous amount and rigid response from the city,having to drive 50 miles to the suburbs in the middle of a work day is completely unreasonahle arrangement the city has made. Finally,lf the Scandia is goingto have a stringent and expensive dog ordinance,then Scandia,not a vet cfinic in Maplewood should have facifities to provide the service. Also,given the large majority of Scandia's residents are on large acreage or farms versus fiving in town,it seems a more reasonable approach should be made for dogs in the courrtry. Most of all,the manaRement of vour ordinance bv the city administrators and doa catcher shauld not include oersonal commentarv on residents or fellow citv emolovees. These ideas seem more fitting for the town that we have come to appreciate far having Rural Values. �ur request is to rece'rve all of our money back,$250.71 paid io Hllltop Animai Hospital,plus 525 dollars for having to ta ke2 hours unscheduled time off of work and drive 50 miles round trip to get our dogs back. 5incerely, � �,�;-./y�r� G''� �._ �{ Eric&Nancy Mey � . �� 990 M �II�,r� � �eh�� Jul 06 10 11:35a Eric Meyer 651 433 3957 p.3 � ' � • ' 934��, t�u I�� N� U10� . � i � v v � v � ILI-CR�C011��Y � � � 1�� E �OD � 5�1� cKy'`�`?�,C��`...—> 1 ; t'4P�L�.{ �qge}—?2� ''f,� ;` , �� i (4j�• 6r"�'L�c�� .I }� ;;i �'. C. G p F'�3fl;13 . 1;�.�-�� r 01� .- er, 4�e2: `i�'-�p ,��.:'l��t��: ice Your Pet Happy~ S 3 :�� ..;� Ma, arc,actiOr � U� — �" �' Printed: Q7-02-�0 at �2:27p p,ge: �Z,d, T��jc,�"'��ipgd o=�yr- '�3�Adult Date: 07-�2-10 �� cC� rj1 CoUar Account: 7Q900 D sno E�,t�'y' 25� o cnojce Invoice: 54374 D mea TO��' �dQDO� O IeaBier 13� ny�on Net Price d� ��e C�e� ' �pp��}E� o hamess - --- ---- --- O«,ny �u�►' � o�� 5pan� o rttoc �E BoarcJing 01 D4 'L9.00 ��:_ �E lmpound�ee 01Q4 100_00 �� I Admin Fee 0't 04 5.00 t�abies vac �S Boarding 0103 19.00 c,op'� c►,��n �LyS�R �I lmpound Fee 0103 100.00 omer io:, ._�`'�� I Admin Fee D103 5.00 � ,; Scamed: `f k .._ • '`P�—Otficer. �r'.°.i�'�'"'n�.' -250.71 --- --- -- -----__..._-—-__—_._.._ l�ate: 7ime: O,nmer Notitied: (�tew bal�ce �ments �nc 250.71 -894.21 O(ticer. Badge#: Out_ - -- --- DISPOSITION: � da x o�r�'`'t'e =Board: g � � �1� , Impounded: Ys �....- � _„i --- Impaund Fee $fr�z'' -- . License Fee � Adrninlsiration Fee g�. `� t� �{ i< Medlca)Servioes $ � 1 Eulh}CremaHon S �j ; Disposal Fee $ ReleaSed �� . -- Euthanized Tax S � `.':� � _ . _ . �Z ,,,. �� Olsposea - - Total $ - ''�'� ;f .� ;� �i I certify that I have examined,iderttified,and received and above descxTbed ;; animal as my own and paid the total as shrna+n above. r� . Date: � �r'-• 1� :, _ - ,l �� ;� / 5��i-.dL f� .�� 1. _:.► ��; •..,.,'-c•• : •�fsigriahire) � {Print name) � Ada�: I ��y, z�coae: � Phone: � OrivePs License No.: 5�� 11j PeE's Name: +�-��1��' ;J I . a Invoice Sherrill Reid Animal Control RE G E(VE D P. O. Box 252 Marine on St Croix, MN 55047 �1J� ._ 1 L�1�J � .�--: July 5, 2010 C17Y OF SCAN�IA � Y. � � City of Scandia 14727 209th Street North �-� Scandia, MN 55073 t`:�,.-_� � �:_�. �...�:>.- Invoice IYo. #10-168 fr �:.�, C.. �;:"�`:: Amount Due $90.00 ti . � �_-. _ �..:_.�-_. �`` Description On July 2, 2010, at 9:45 AM, I received a phone cail from �`��` of Services Irene Day who lives at 22801 Meadowbrook Av N in Scandia. � Irene toid me that she had been outside her house weeding on ihe 1 st of July when two dogs had showed up and decided to stay. She had to put her own dog in the house to keep the �� dogs separated. After two or three hours she read the tags on '�'��`�'°'° the dogs, a male English shepherd and a maie Jack Russell �_,� #errier, and called the number tha#was listed on both tags. She °" got no answer. She tried three more times to reach someone ° "' at the number and left messages. She got on the+rttemet and � traced the phone number to Eric Meyers, which just gave an . �� ;R address of Scandia or she wouid have driven them home. She � �_�--�- finally kenneled the dogs and the next morning she tried two �� a ��f� ��fiz more times and then calied me. 1 picked up both dogs and �.. delivered them to Hillcrest. The dogs belong to Mr. Meyers �� ' who tives on Mallard Lane in Scandia. In a conversation with �'`'��`�� " Mr. Meyers on Friday aftemoon he claimed his dogs had run ��-+��3�3� �:�� _ away from fireworks on Friday morning when they had been at ��•��q ��1� �.��. the Day's house ovemight. He also said he expected me to just bring the dogs back to him and not collect a fee, which I am not in the habit of doing. I would have taken the dogs to Hillcrest, regardless. I will not be waving my fee. Since this was a private call, I notified both Washington County Sheriff s Department and the City of Scandia. Terms $90.00 for services detaiied above Due date after next city council meeting