CIRCLEVILLE, OH — The Circleville Safety Committee convened at 5:30 p.m. on July 29, 2024, to discuss crucial safety issues and approve a new ordinance. The meeting, chaired by Jeff Hallinin, included participation from Council members Tom Kiltzka, and Councilman Katie Hedges.
Chair Jeff Hallinin opened the meeting promptly and reviewed the minutes from the previous session held on July 16. With no amendments requested, the minutes were approved unanimously.
The primary agenda item was a new ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Safety to solicit bids for a contract to handle the trapping and disposal of feral animals within the city. The ordinance also declared an emergency to expedite the process.
The ordinance, as read by Committee members, details the procedure for contracting with the lowest and best bidder to manage feral animal control. It includes provisions for addressing issues related to feral cats, a topic of considerable discussion.
Councilman Tom Kiltizka raised concerns about the ordinance’s current provisions for feral cats, suggesting that additional language may be necessary to cover trapping, neutering, and releasing TNR (Trap Neuter Release) protocols. The discussion led to a recommendation that a separate ordinance be considered for TNR procedures, with the current ordinance being reviewed to ensure legal compliance. 10,000 dollars total currently has been set aside to pay for the service. According to a trapper who attended he said that trapping an animal costs around 300 dollars to trap and remove, he said that anyone who went into bid with the city would offer a lesser price of around 100 dollars per animal.
After a brief discussion, the committee agreed to move the ordinance forward to the full council. The motion, which included a review by the law director to address concerns about feral cat management, was seconded by Councilman Tom Peoples. A roll call vote confirmed unanimous approval.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, seconded by Committee Member Katie. The motion passed with all members in favor of pushing the ordinance to the council, and the meeting was officially adjourned.
