CONNEAUT — Horses that crashed their corral Monday afternoon and galloped down a busy Route 20 are an argument for moving big animals out of residential neighborhoods, Conneaut City Council was told at Monday’s meeting.
Melissa Reydak, 331 Bessemer Ave., presented petitions signed by neighbors, urging council to address the problem of farm animals in non-farm parts of town. At issue are four horses housed at a Bessemer Avenue property on the east side of town. Neighbors have objected, saying the situation is a health concern and a nuisance.
On Monday, the horses bolted their corral and wound up on Route 20, Reydak said. Police were summoned to the scene around 3 p.m., according to a police report. The owner rounded up the horses without incident, officers said.
Though the incident had a happy ending, the outcome could have been much different, Reydak said.
“It created a dangerous situation,” she said. “It could’ve caused an accident.”
City officials have used the Bessemer horses as reason to address the issue of farm animals in residential neighborhoods. Conneaut’s Planning Commission is examining possible zoning changes and has proposed tougher standards.
Existing codes do not address the farm-animal situation, which is why the planning commission — then the council — will be asked to weigh in on the matter. “It’s an important issue,” said Law Director Lori Lamer.
In other business, council:
n Moved to a second reading legislation that would contract with Lynnwoods Kennels Inc. for the purchase and training of a police dog. Ward 3 Councilman Greg Mooney said he needed time to study the situation; and
n Authorized City Manager Douglas Lewis to pursue $500,000 in state grants for improvements to the East Conneaut Industrial Park. The money, if secured, would be applied to the $1.4 million project, which will expand water and sewer lines into the park and create a new roadway.
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