Hammond to review dog laws
HAMMOND — The City Council instructed City Attorney Andre Coudrain to review Hammond’s ordinances and laws regarding the keeping of vicious dogs, especially pit bulls, within the city’s limits.
The action came Tuesday night in response to reports of an attack by two pit bulls that
injured a child on East Louisiana Street last week, officials said.
Councilman Lemar Marshall presented each council member with detailed information about dangerous and vicious dogs and what is being done in other communities to combat the problem.
He said after Coudrain completes his research, he hopes to hold a public hearing on the issue.
Mayor Mayson Foster said ordinances on the books require owners to keep such animals in enclosed spaces and to leash them when outside the confined area.
Owners of such dogs must maintain a $50,000 liability insurance policy.
Other agenda items considered by the council included:
ZEMURRAY PARK: Foster announced restoration of the large pond in Zemurray Park, the city’s main recreation venue, will begin in the near future. The pond will be drained and made deeper. Bulkheads and piers will be installed.
The city has canceled all scheduled events for the park during the projected 120 days of work, including the annual July Fourth fireworks show.
SALES TAX REVENUE: Foster announced sales tax receipts for March were the highest recorded for that month.
The latest sales tax report showed $1.57 million was collected in March, an increase of 8.7 percent over the same month the previous year.
Foster said the city is $788,000 over the projected sales tax returns for the year.
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS: The council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing transfer of $129,000 from the Del Mar Boulevard Paving contract to drainage improvements on Rue de la Paix, Marta Drive, M.C. Moore and Nashville streets.
CLEANEST CITY: Foster announced the Keep Hammond Beautiful Committee will hold a trash pickup session from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday with headquarters at Cate Square Park.
The cleanup is scheduled in connection with the annual Louisiana Cleanest City Contest. State judges will be in Hammond on May 8. The city will hold a recycling day at Zemurray Park on the same day from 8 a.m. until noon.