Berwick council moves to control stray animals

BERWICK — You’ve heard the old expression about herding cats?
The Berwick Town Council is taking on something like the same kind of challenge.
The council on Tuesday passed an ordinance written to deal with a large population of stray cats, a problem that local people say has led to flea-infested vehicle carpets, ripped up flower beds, nasty odors and even injury.
Also Tuesday, the council introduced a budget for 2024-25, set property tax rates for 2024 and increased residential trash pickup fees.
Cats
The ordinance that passed 5-0 makes it a crime, punishable by a $50 fine for a first offense, to set out food for stray cats or dogs. An amendment put forward by City Attorney Robert Duffy limits the prohibition to public property or businesses, allowing people to set out pet food on residential property they own.
In discussion before the passage vote, resident David Simoneaux said his wife was attacked by a stray cat that was hiding in bushes.
Assistant Police Chief JP Henry said officers have fielded complaints that include fleas in a classroom at Berwick Elementary, near a spot where strays are fed, and damaged upholstery at a local business.
Henry replaced the carpeting in his own vehicle to get rid of a flea infestation.
While the problems are clear enough, the solutions are harder to see.
Animal shelters are full, and when there is an opening, people who bring in a stray are charged $65.
Killing a troublesome stray constitutes cruelty to animals, Police Chief David S. Leonard said, and catching a stray and releasing it elsewhere is abandonment.
Resident Jeff Russo was skeptical about the ordinance passed Tuesday.
“How’s that going to fix the problem?” Russo asked. “Because the problem is there are cats everywhere. … If you can still feed them on your porch, how is that going to help?”
Council members said the ban on setting out food for strays is a first step.
Alyssa Muse of Aviary Creatures Rescue mentioned a possible remedy: a colony for feral cats, a half-acre to an acre where the animals could be relocated.
A couple of feral cat colonies are in use in the Covington area, she said.
But the colonies require land and donations for food.
Budget, taxes
The council voted to roll forward two property tax rates, one for general purposes and another for maintenance and improvements, to their present levels.
Property in Louisiana is assessed for tax purposes every four years. The Louisiana Constitution says that when a reassessment would result in an increase in property tax revenue, the millages must be rolled back to keep the process revenue-neutral.
Local governments can vote to return the millages to their pre-assessment levels. That’s what the Town Council did Tuesday.
A general alimony tax, which would have been rolled back to 12.66 mills, will remain at 12.88 mills. The maintenance and improvement tax, which would have been reduced to 5.9 mills, will stay at 6 mills.
The proposed budget anticipates revenue of about $7.1 million, up 3.14% from the current year, and expenditures of about $5.4 million, down 12.5%.
When intergovernmental transfers for items such as grants are accounted for, the proposed budget would add about $10,000 to the town’s fund balance, which would total about $3.5 million.
If the proposed budget follows the normal course, it would come up for a public hearing and passage vote at the Sept. 10 meeting.
Trash pickup
The council passed a resolution raising the service charge for trash pick-up to $24.50 per month from $22.50. The charge applies to homes and businesses.
Council members said Pelican Waste and Debris raised its per-unit charge by $1.50 this year, and the new town rate covers Pelican’s charge to the town.
“The mayor and council members of the Town of Berwick do not decide the garbage collection and disposal service charge, nor can they control increases,” the resolution said.
The increase imposed by Pelican was tied to an increase in fees at the parish landfill.
Also Tuesday:
—The council appointed Brandon Monceaux to the St. Mary Parish Consolidated Sewer District board and Kim Macaluso to the Berwick Development District board.
—Deborah Price of the Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service said the group will be transmitting from Lighthouse Park 7 p.m. Friday-7 p.m. Sunday. The event is part of International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend, when radio amateurs try to contact other hams at lighthouses around the country.
—Christy Theriot of Roots & Ribbons passed out pink garlands to council members as a reminder that the Puttin’ on the Pink run and walk will be Oct. 5 in Patterson. The event raises money to be used to support breast cancer survivors in the St. Mary area.