Pit Bull Ordinance Repeal Delayed Again
Ordinance should be on the Feb. 22 meeting agenda.
The controversial legislation that could repeal the city's current pit bull restrictions is not ready for board review.
That means city officials and concerned residents will likely have to wait until the Wentzville Board of Aldermen's meeting Feb. 22 before they can see for themselves what the new policy may look like.
Officials had hoped to have the legislation on the board's agenda this week. But newly hired police Chief Lisa Harrison said the ordinance, which has been in the draft process since mid-November, has been completely revamped and is not ready for board action.
Harrison said she first got her hands on the legislation just before the board's last meeting on Jan. 25, where she received further guidance on what board members would like to see in the new legislation.
Essentially, aldermen wanted harsher fines for owners of vicious dogs and a clearer path for how and how much to fine them.
The city has long had certain restrictions on pit bulls. Now, officials and concerned residents are pushing to repeal those restrictions and replace them with a new policy that would enact harsher penalties on owners of any dog that displays vicious characteristics.