By Sara QuamThe Luverne City Council will vote next week on forming a new Law Enforcement Study Committee. The city has a list of interested members including Keith Aanenson, Ron McClure, Ed Elbers, Mike Reker, Lila Bauer, Mike Jarchow, Steve Perkins, Julie Hamann, Loren Forrest, Marlene DeSplinter, Mike Cox and Gregg Gropel.The committee will probably start meeting after the holidays and make a recommendation to the Council in February. The committee will help review the current law enforcement contract and surrounding issues of services and costs. It will also look at options for the city to form its own police department if the county and city can’t agree on a new contract.The city’s contract for law enforcement through the county ends at the end of 2005.Animal poundThe Luverne City Council is still considering closing its animal pound. It costs the city about $6,000 or $7,000 a year to enforce animal ordinances in the city.The problem is that many dogs aren’t licensed as they are required to be. Many of the dogs (and unlicensed cats) that are brought to the pound aren’t even from the city.The Council may try to get more people to license their dogs and may consider licensing cats. In order to save money, the city may also accept only licensed dogs at the pound. Then the city would have a way to find owners.City Administrator Greg LaFond said, "It’s difficult, given the lack of licensing compliance, to know where the owners live." Sheriff Mike Winkels said that his officers can’t enforce ordinances if they don’t have a place to take animals.He said, "If the city wouldn’t accept cats, we would inform the public that we won’t pick them up."Councilman Pat Baustian said he was leaning toward the option of allowing only licensed animals in the pound. He said that would be a good incentive for people to get licensing up to date. It would offset the cost of maintaining a pound by gaining revenue from licenses, and fewer dogs would be put to sleep because owners couldn’t be found.Many people don’t realize dogs have to be licensed every two years.Last year, about 17 cats and dogs were impounded. In 2003, 26 dogs were impounded.There are roughly 60 dogs licensed in the city, but an estimated 400 are not.
