Franklin County Commissioner postpone public hearing on animal control and littering ordinances

            Franklin county commissioners have agreed to table any action on the county animal control ordinance and to its littering ordinance until its second meeting in April.

County officials agreed to amend the two ordinances last year; the county attorney has been working on the changes.

The board had scheduled public hearings on the issue for this week, but decided to table them until April because of a scheduling problem.

The animal control ordinance was last changed in 2006 and officials say it needs to be brought up to date.       

As part of the update the county will create an interlocal agreement with the cities of Carrabelle and Apalachicola so the county animal control department can operate within the city limits.

Alligator Point residents who attended Tuesday’s meeting said they support the changes but would like to make sure that sheriff’s deputies and not just animal control officers have the authority to enforce the animal control ordinance.

The County litter ordinance was enacted in 1997 and sets penalties for people found dumping trash on public or private property in the county, as well as in local waterways.

The county plans to update the penalties in the rule so that homeowners who are cited are not immediately facing a criminal charge for littering.

Under the amended rule the penalties on some of the larger offenses will include civil penalties before they become criminal charges. 

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