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Show Animal control officer again urges county commission to meet with judge added, but because; he supports animal control. In a related item at the commission meeting, Shoda said his department needs better communication communi-cation with the public, in particular a good phone system. Calls to the animal shelter go through the Coalville dispatch. A Park City number is shared with the county road shed at Kimball Junction. The shelter is only manned from 4 to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Shoda also said his department lacks clerical help and a system of record-keeping. Eley suggested, "In other words, 'I don't have a private secretary.' " Shoda replied, "I feel that often my comments. arei misconstrued. I don't feel we need a gigantic expenditure for this." . Eley said the animal control department can't handle the load with the present staff of two men (Shoda and Officer Mike Georgi). He said a third staffer should be hired to man the shelter three to four hours a day. The session ended with Flinders calling for stringent control of the dog problem. "We want to clear it up." At press time, the commission was also scheduled to discuss the dog issue with the Park City Council at its April 24 session. by Rick Brough ' County Animal Control Officer Barry Shoda last week again urged the Summit County Commisison to talk about dog control problems with Justice of the Peace James Kilby. Shoda made the plea at the commission meeting on April 17. The session virtually reprised a meeting Shoda had with commissioners commis-sioners two weeks earlier. The dogcatcher said the public was demanding better dog control from his department. At the same time, he had concerns about Kilby dismissing cases, in particular dogs with a history of violations and cases of attacking dogs. (Kilby's jurisdiction jurisdic-tion is in the Park City-Snyderville area.) Shoda stressed his purpose was not to criticize Kilby but to get the commission to communicate with the judge. Shoda also said his department depart-ment needed better management of records and an improved communications communi-cations system with the public. At press time, Kilby was scheduled to meet with the commission commis-sion next Wednesay, May 1. He said he was willing to discuss animal control issues but, "I'm not going to abdicate sentencing to either Mr. Shoda or the commission." Previously, Pre-viously, Kilby told the Record he sought to educate rather than punish dog owners, but added he took a serious attitude toward such offenses as attacking dogs. During last Wednesday's meet-" ing, Commissioner Tom Flinders said, "We want to see that when you i catch a dog, that dog doesn't come back (on another violation)." Shoda said the question is not just one of capturing the dogs, but what happens to them afterwards. Flinders, Flin-ders, who was not present for the first dog discussion, asked Shoda what happens to dog violators at the judicial level. "You need to direct those questions to Jim Kilby," said Shoda. "We don't feel it's our position to tell the court what to do. We can only point out there is a public outcry." Shoda gave this example: "We issue a citation for a dog attacking. If that is dismissed, we would like to argue our side first rather than just receive a notice saying it's dismissed." dis-missed." The attacks and multiple violaters are areas, he said, where the judge dismisses cases. Sheriff Fred Eley said Kilby faces a 50-1 greater ticket load than other judges in the county. He also said every dog owner cites special circumstances concerning his violation. viola-tion. "There's always a story about 'Why my dog got out,' " said Eley. Kilby told the Record he will continue to judge violations on a case-by-case basis. But he said he has made one change in recent weeks. His court now uses a late-letter program which informs residents they have a dog citation outstanding. It tells them to take action immediately, before a warrant is issued. Kilby said he has had a substantial response to the program. He is not doing it to please Shoda, he |