V. Hugh Lewis II
Jefferson Jimplecute
Jefferson City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday night prohibiting the feeding of “wild animals, birds, stray animals or feral/community cats, regardless of age, sex or temperament.”
The ordinance also makes it unlawful for any person to place food of any kind with the intent of feeding wild animals on property they do not own or occupy or vacant or undeveloped property anywhere in the City.
Violators of the ordinance can face a $500 fine per day for the offense.
“Stopping the feeding of FOJA animal communities nurtured for several years amounts to animal cruelty,” said Sharon Goolsby during public comment.
Jefferson Mayor Patricia Finstrom cited “several businesses” had talked to her about the issue but did not name anyone specifically, claiming they had indicated they were afraid of retribution.
“We didn’t even fine people for putting stuff on public property,” said Ward 3 Alderman April Taylor Johnson. “How are we going to enforce this?”
In the May Council meeting Ward 1 Alderman Charles Haggard volunteered to form a committee to gather input and make a proposal in August on how to handle the situation. During Tuesday’s meeting, Haggard said he did not form a committee because “I wasn’t going to form a committee and take minutes and all that.”
No committee was formed and no public input on the situation was gathered.
Under the ordinance Friends of Jefferson Animals (FOJA) is also prohibited from trapping stray animals with food except on an individuals property. FOJA receives funding from the City to assist with the stray animal population in town. According to a report provided by Goolsby during the meeting, FOJA spent a little over $18,000 on stray animal care inside the City limits over the last quarter.
The ordinance passed after Finstrom voted to break a tie. Voting for the ordinance were Hollis Shadden (Ward 1), Doug Thompson (Ward 3), and Paul Keith (Ward 2). Voting against the ordinance were April Taylor Johsnon (Ward 3), Ray Hengst (Ward 2), and Haggard (Ward 1).
Following passage, FOJA representative Sharon Goolsby was displeased with the outcome and the lack of public input on the matter. She left the meeting saying “I’ll see you in court.”
A concern was raised by former Mayor Carey Heaster about the ordinance. Heaster asked if the ordinance had to be on public display prior to passage as it imposed a fine. City Secretary Melissa Boyd said she would look into that concern and get back to Heaster.
NOTE: Corrections: The original story indicated a 30-day wait to go into effect. However, State Ordinance actually indicates that since there was no effective date on the ordinance, it goes into effect upon publicaiton, which is scheduled for July 25, 2025. Original: The ordinance will go into effect 30-days after it has been published in the newspaper. As of press time, it had not be delivered to the Jimplecute for publication. The earliest it could be available for enforcement is August 25, 2025.
See the discussion on the ordinance on the Jimplecute’s YouTube Channel at time marker 2:55:13
See more Council meeting news on page 6.
Discover more from Marion County Herald & Jefferson Jimplecute
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
This is so sad. Those poor little animals just need help and giving them a little food and water especially during the heat. It’s a no-brainer it’s something you should do it’s the right thing to do to give them food and water if you can to catch them and get them fixed and re-release them. Shame on everyone that voted for this ordinance you make it hard for those who are trying to help those poor animals to do what they need to do. It made me so sad all I could do was pray that the Lord changes the hearts and minds of those who made this city ordinance a law so that those who want to help can’t. Shame on all of you shame on all of you.