During a meeting that addressed interim real estate assessments and a time-sensitive bridge repair project, an obscure ordinance prohibiting snakes and other exotic animals took center stage in Wilkins.
Corey Hobbel of Dunbar Drive voiced his opposition to ordinance 6518, which prohibits ownership of “poisonous, non-poisonous or constrictor” snakes in the township.
Last month, Mr. Hobbel received a notice instructing him to remove his boa constrictor from his property after a neighbor saw him holding it in his front yard.
He said the ordinance unfairly classifies all snakes as dangerous, and said he would appeal the notice as well as the ordinance.
“Some people are dog people, some people are cat people. Me and my family, we’re snake people,” he said. “I take care of my animals. They’re not contained in a cardboard box, they’re in a professional enclosure that is lockable and they’re safe.
“If it’s a matter of me keeping my snake indoors and locked up, I will be more than happy to do so. But to outright have to get rid of my animal — which is part of our family, weird as that might sound — I don’t see the logic.”
Code enforcement officer Leonard Hill said the ordinance — which also prohibits animals such as hippos, elephants and jaguars — was most likely written based on a model ordinance years ago, and admitted it covers a broad range of animals.
But he also said irresponsible pet owners could release their snakes into the wild and cause a pest control problem in the township.
Although no commissioners moved to amend the ordinance, commissioner Paul Padula suggested that Mr. Hobbel bring the board information from places he had lived in the past so members would have an idea how to balance the safety of the residents and the rights of snake owners.
“I think the police, fire department and paramedics should know about it,” he said. “I think people need to be made aware of what it is. But I think we need to figure out if there’s some sort of neutral ground somewhere we can come up with.”
In other news, the board tabled a proposed rental registration ordinance and unanimously approved an ordinance allowing interim real estate assessments on new construction projects in the township.
The ordinance will apply interim assessments to construction projects as soon as their occupancy permits are issued, rather than waiting until businesses open.
Manager Rebecca Bradley said the Woodland Hills School District already applies interim assessments to projects, so the township may do so as well.
Resident Karl Creary said the new assessments could discourage businesses from coming into the township.
“I know we’re not trying to make Wilkins Township less attractive to new business, but I think that would be the effect of any ordinance that would be aimed at squeezing out every last drop of tax revenue from new construction,” he said.
The final date to submit bids to repair the Balint Lane Bridge has been pushed back to next Wednesday in order to increase interest in the project. Officials hope to repair that bridge, which collapsed into Saw Mill Run during flooding in 2009, before winter.
And with a projected $700,000 deficit in 2012 on the minds of commissioners and residents alike, Mr. Hill encouraged the board to consider the township’s priorities, particularly a fully staffed police department.
He said a suggestion by Commissioner Michael Szoko to reduce the police force from 12 to 10 was not the best way to run the department and urged the board to find other ways to make cuts.
Commissioner Sharyn Fialla said she strongly urges residents to offer suggestions to the board regarding the pending deficit, and which services they believe are most important to the township.
“The residents have to understand they can no longer have it all in Wilkins Township,” she said. “It’s going to be either or, and that either-or scenario might still involve tax increases.”
The next budget meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 25.