By DEB WUETHRICH

Tecumseh City Council members approved a first reading of an amendment to the city ordinance involving dogs and kennels on Monday night, an action intended to clean up language in the ordinance  and designate that an acceptable number of dogs per household will be a maximum of three. With four or more, an owner would be deemed the operator of a dog kennel, which requires special licensing.

City Manager Kevin Welch said even though the intent of the current ordinance was to allow only two animals per household, the language actually could be interpreted to mean two animals per person. A change would allow an opportunity to clarify that.

Welch said the issue came to the city’s attention for a couple of reasons. The city’s Ordinance Enforcement Officer has noticed during the course of her duties that a number of city residents have three dogs. Also, dog owners may obtain licensing through the City Treasurer’s office, and some people have been making application for three dogs.

“Technically, this means one of them is illegal,” said Welch. “We saw that we’d either have to start citing people, or make a change in the ordinance.” He said he did an informal survey of other municipalities, and at least half of them allow for three dogs.
“I don’t really think that if we change this, we’re going to change how many dogs people have,” said Welch. He said the policy would just mean that some of the pets people already have would no longer be out of compliance. Council members will vote further on the issue at a future council meeting.

Also at Monday night’s council meeting the council members:

• Heard Mark Kettner, a CPA with Rehmann Robson of Jackson, report that the city had obtained a “clean, unqualified opinion” on its annual audit. He said the city’s staff members continue to demonstrate a willingness and desire to improve. “You are fortunate to have the dedicated people that you have got here that do a good job for you day in and day out,” Kettner said.
•  Learned that fundraising would soon begin in order to host a fireworks display in Tecumseh for the Great Tecumseh Campout event that will replace the Pow Wow, which is moving to the Lenawee County Fairgrounds in Adrian.
• Presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Cheri Hull for serving as a member of the Downtown Development Authority for 10 years.
• Approved the hiring of the Oetzel Hartman Group at a cost of $18,000 to conduct an appraisal of Lenawee Stamping’s real property.
• Heard that Mayor Schmidt spoke with the general manager of WTOL television who said that Tecumseh perfectly fit the criteria the station had set up for a community outreach, which led to a live broadcast from the Depot on December 4. Welch said that marketing efforts would be stepped up in the Toledo viewing area in order for the city to receive direct benefits from the exposure.