TERRE HAUTE — The Terre Haute City Council has put off the vote on an effort to remove the director of the Terre Haute Humane Shelter from the city’s Animal Control Commission.
After a lengthy discussion Wednesday night, council members voted unanimously to table a decision on the measure put forward by Councilman Norm Loudermilk, D-3rd.
Under current city law, the director of the Humane Shelter or a designee is an automatic member of the five-person commission. Loudermilk’s ordinance would take away that automatic membership.
“The Humane Society does a fantastic job,” Loudermilk said. However, when it comes to controlling the city’s stray animal population, the shelter and the commission have different goals, he said.
The commission’s “job is to control the population. That’s not the goal of the Humane Society,” Loudermilk said.
A handful of people spoke for or against Loudermilk’s ordinance at the meeting. Opponents of the measure said they believe the commission benefits from the knowledge and information provided by a representative of the shelter. Supporters said the measure is needed to bring about long term changes in the city’s approach to stray animals.
“We need to do something because the shelter is not meeting the city’s needs,” said Erica Cantin, a member of the Animal Control Commission and supporter of Loudermilk’s ordinance.
The Humane Shelter is not taking enough stray animals from the city’s animal control officers, Loudermilk said. Often the officers cannot reach the shelter by telephone and often the officers are told there is not enough room at the shelter for additional strays, he said.
“They say they are full because they wont euthanize” animals, especially stray cats, he said.
Susan Marr, president of the Terre Haute Humane Society said the shelter will take in more than 3,400 animals this year and many have been given to foster families or adopted.
“Instead of going out in a body bag, they are leaving in a crate in a van,” she said.
Euthanizing animals is more humane than allowing them to freeze to death outdoors or be struck by a car because there is no room at the shelter, said Vicki Curts, also a member of the Animal Control Commission.
Another opponent of the ordinance said the city should put funding into helping spay and neuter stray cats, not into building a municipal animal shelter.
“The whole point of this” is to encourage the city to build a municipal animal shelter, said Councilman George Azar, D-at large, while questioning a supporter of the ordinance. Azar questioned how removing one member of the Animal Control Commission would further that goal.
“At least we’re trying to do something,” Loudermilk said. The city has a contract with the Humane Shelter to take up to 15 animals per week, he said, adding it is currently taking much fewer than that.
“It sounds like we need a contract that’s got some teeth,” said Councilman John Mullican, D-6th. “It sounds like that’s something we don’t have right now.”
Meanwhile, the council voted Wednesday night in favor of creating a four-way stop at Locust and 14th streets. Heavy pedestrian traffic made that move necessary, several council members said. The council also voted in favor of a fee schedule for the use by outside agencies of the city’s fire training academy facility on North Brown Avenue.
The council also voted Wednesday night to put off until next month a decision on banning outdoor wood burning furnaces or boilers pending further information.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
TH Council tables animal control issue
- Local & Bistate
-
-
UPDATE: Fatal semi accident closes eastbound I-70 in Hendricks County
A fatal semitrailer accident and resulting material spill earlier this morning resulted in the closing of eastbound Interstate 70 at the 57-mile marker in Hendricks County, according to an Indiana State Police news release. The roadway remained closed as of 2 p.m.
-
Valentine's Day a rosy business
Red roses, mixed bouquets and even a bonsai tree or two are being delivered today on perhaps the nation’s sweetest holiday.
-
Downtown gets Wi-Fi ‘hotspot’
Frontier Communications has reached an agreement with city officials to create a Wi-Fi “hotspot” covering much of downtown Terre Haute.
-
Board OKs $5.4M in work at schools
The Vigo County School Board has approved borrowing $5.4 million for an expansion of DeVaney Elementary School and energy-related projects at 15 other schools.
-
Stella’s Cafe downtown plans to close March 2
Not long after changing its name from Bit of Britain Tea Room to Stella’s Cafe, a downtown restaurant has announced plans to close its doors.
-
Bill would ease college credit transfers
Indiana college students worried about whether their credit hours will transfer to another university may get some relief if a proposed higher-education bill passes.
-
Court alters trial date for man accused in 1979 death case
A trial date has changed for a Riley man accused of a 1979 homicide.
-
Shift to online raises school cost concerns
Legislation that would require high school students in Indiana to take at least one online course is meeting resistance from some school administrators who say they can’t afford any more mandates from the state.
-
Cops nab man after squad car struck
A West Terre Haute man was arrested Monday after a police pursuit that began after his vehicle collided with a Terre Haute police car.
-
Victim unhurt when robbed by gunman
Terre Haute police were searching late Monday night for a suspect accused of using a gun to rob another person at about 7 p.m.
-
Man face gun charge after woman shot in leg
A Terre Haute man faces a misdemeanor firearms charge following an accidental shooting during the weekend.
-
Packing the hall
If you didn’t come early, the seats were hard to find.
-
Alternative-fuel project has Rose, ISU students all charged up
The future of Earth’s auto industry is intertwined with the career prospects of local university students, and a world-class team shined with green energy Sunday.
-
Montford Point Marine
In 1943, 19-year-old Ezell Odom was on the sandy beach of a tiny South Pacific island about 7,000 miles from his parent’s home in Terre Haute.
-
K-9 officer Shadow honored as a hero
A Terre Haute K-9 officer injured in the line of duty has been honored as a hero by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
-
Freezin’ for a Reason
Hundreds lined up outside Hulman Center amid frigid air to participate in a warm-hearted cause.
-
Even as law, right-to-work dominates crackerbarrel
The flames of the right-to-work debate were gone, but the coals still seemed to smolder.
-
Vigo School Board to give OK on bonds for DeVaney project
The Vigo County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the administration building, 686 Wabash Ave.
-
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
-
Students showcase keen problem-solving skills at Rose-Hulman
For the 16th straight year, Honey Creek Middle School students came out on top in the Wabash Valley MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
-
Ivy Tech to celebrate Black History Month
Ivy Tech Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events at its campuses statewide.
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
UPDATE: Fatal semi accident closes eastbound I-70 in Hendricks County
Raw Video: Kim Jong Il Statue Unveiled
Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub
Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J.
Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home
Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death
Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star
First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Obama's New Budget: The Winners and Losers
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash.
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Attempted Bomb Attack Stopped in Georgia
Israeli Diplomats Targeted in India, Georgia
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Sports Illustrated Cover Leaked
Swimmer makes surprise marriage proposal in Mo.
Whitney Houston Funeral Arrangements Set
Scarlett Johansson's Bikini P-D-A
Bayne ready to defend 500
Man Allegedly Drowns Wife While Scuba Diving
The 'Celebrity Apprentice' Cast Meets Donald Trump
Wash. becomes 7th state to okay same-sex marriage
Romijn's 60 Pound Weight Loss
Kissing contest heats up
Hugh Hefner's Son Arrested
Jacqueline Kennedy's personal papers released
Did Tyler Perry Have a Secret Wedding?
Iran denies Israeli embassy bombings
'Bachelor' Free Falls into the Ocean
Facebook Parenting: Father Posts Video Responding to Daughter's Post
Bobby Brown on Houston's Death
