JASPER, Tenn. - A controversial ordinance placing restrictions on pitbulls and their owners has passed despite last-minute pleas of opposition by some residents.
At the June meeting of the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Mayor Paul Evans asked those in attendance to be "considerate and patient" as they spoke on the matter.
Some adhered to that. Others didn't.
"I want to clarify that the town is not going to take away any dogs," Evans said. "We will not come into your home and search it without a search warrant."
According to the ordinance, which is a copy of one provided by the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service, pitbull owners would be required to get a $100,000 liability insurance policy and proof of vaccination.
Those and other stringent regulations brought the ire of some residents last month when the board voted unanimously to approve the ordinance on first reading.
"The ordinance did not happen overnight," Evans said. "It's been a couple of months or so in the planning. Ours is not as stiff as some of them around. We feel like we have a good ordinance for our citizens."
Resident Jessica Huggins said she has been involved with rescuing pitbulls for more than a decade and has housed 25 to 30 pitbulls over the last 12 years.
"I can't afford a $100,000 liability insurance policy, and my dogs have never caused the citizens a problem," she told the board. "That's my issue with this."
If the rules are going to be made, Huggins said, they should apply to all breeds.
"Dogs are individuals," she said. "Evaluate them as such. I would like to continue to live here, but if this ordinance passes, I won't."
Laura Turner, another longtime Jasper resident, questioned whether the board had examined the costs to the city to enforce the new rules.
After extensive research, she estimated the ordinance would cost a minimum of $100,000 during its first year for upgrades to its housing facility and any extra salaries required.
"This figure is disturbing to me," Turner said.
Evans said he's "done his research too," and that's why he supports the ordinance.
Resident Jim Roberts got a mixed breed dog in August, but doesn't know if pitbull is a part of that mixture.
He said he's had the dog tested in case the ordinance becomes law, but hasn't gotten the results yet.
"Jasper already has ordinances in place to take care of free-running or vicious dogs," he said. "We just need to enforce them."
Evans said Jasper does enforce its current laws.
"When we get a call and an animal is on the loose, we send the animal control officer up there," he said. "He has been sent out at night to answer calls. We do keep a log of it."
Enhancing those existing ordinances might be necessary, Roberts said, but shouldn't focus on a specific breed.
He suggested the issue be placed on the ballot as a referendum and said he hoped his family wouldn't be placed in the "awkward" position of choosing between their dog and staying in the town.
City Attorney Mark Raines said the ordinance could probably become a referendum, but it would be at least 2018 before it could be placed on the ballot.
Instead, the board voted unanimously to approve the ordinance on second and final reading.
"You're just passing a law you're not going to enforce," one person attending the meeting yelled. "You know you're not going to enforce it because the people here will whip your ass."
"No," Evans replied. "We're going to enforce it."
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com