A long-running Wheat Ridge commission March 23.
The Wheat Ridge Animal Welfare and Control Commission formed almost four decades ago when the city still had many rural characteristics. The original mission was to mediate neighborhood disputes around animals and to educate the community on proper animal care.
A lot has changed since then, and over the years the commission’s role diminished as code enforcement and the police department assumed many of those duties. , and the city paid $6,000 last year for a professional mediator to facilitate discussions in finding a new role for the commission.
The disagreements weren’t resolved, and agenda listings showed the commission only meeting twice in 2014.
Speaking Monday night, former Councilwoman Nancy Snow said it was wrong to disband a group of dedicated volunteers who helped both people and animals.
“In the past, if there were neighborhood problems, like people not cleaning up after their horses, the animal control commission would go out there and help them,” Snow said. “Now the only thing left is police action, and for the police to go out and write tickets.”
Wheat Ridge Police Chief Dan Brennan said modern times mean there has to be a level of professionalism in how the city interacts with residents and that a five-year neighborhood mediation program has proven useful in solving local disputes.
“Certainly we recognize the expertise (the animal control commission) has and our plan is to use their experience in the different areas they have to help us when problems arise,” Brennan said.
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
