Marina and animal control, particularly cats, main topics at Ravenswood City Council

Story by Suzette Lowe - Special to Jackson Newspapers

The Ravenswood Police Department increased by one with the swearing in of Trenton Lanier at the Ravenswood City Council meeting on March 15.

Lanier thanked his family for their support and the mayor and the city police department for giving him the opportunity to serve.

The potential effect of the Great Bend Marina and Recreation Complex to the city of Ravenswood will be substantial according to an economic impact study conducted by West Virginia University at Parkersburg and D. Byers and Associates.

“Ravenswood is in a unique position,” Senta Goudy, who was involved with the study, said. “The location along the Ohio River makes it ideal for the increased recreational appeal that other river cities are experiencing.”

The three focus areas of the study were direct economic activity, health and wellness of the community and economic development.

Access to many other places to visit, including trails and wildlife refuge, within 100 miles give Ravenswood another advantage according to Goudy.

Goudy also pointed out that there are challenges ahead as well. Hotels, restaurants and access to downtown from the marina will be key to economic success. Marietta, Ohio, a successful river city, has numerous hotels, bed & breakfasts, restaurants and retail shops a short distance from its marina.

According to the study, the potential annual economic impact could be $190,000 from direct marina and harbor revenue. From boating travel and tourism, income could reach $760,000 if the downtown is also developed.

A great portion of the two-and-a-half-hour council meeting focused on the issue of animal control in the city, particularly cats.

Teresa Hager spoke to council about her role as the Jackson County humane officer.

“The contract that the city has with the county is for dogs only,” she explained. “The $200 given to support that comes from dog tax payments. The shelter does not accept feral cats in general, only domesticated ones.”

Councilman Steve Tucker asked several questions regarding what everyone commonly called ‘the cat situation,’ including the potential with the new animal shelter which is scheduled to be constructed this year.

“We will be able to handle more animals, including cats,” Hager said. “But we will still not take ferals.”

When asked what the solution to the great number of cats in the city was, Hager said the Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program was the only way to control the population.

“Operation Fancy Free is the best option,” she said. “They are a non-profit organization that will spay and neuter for free. They have done thousands of these since starting a few years ago.”

Danny Mitchell, the city’s ordinance officer, said the issue he hears most complaints about is cats, either owned or strays, tearing up lawns and flower beds.

“TNR is great, but it doesn’t solve this problem,” he said. “That’s why I’m asking for some changes in the animal ordinance. I know they may not be easily enforceable, but they still need to be in there.”

Although not the first reading of the ordinance amendment, as required by law, the major proposed changes were discussed briefly.

Mayor Miller stated that there was one item he was adamantly in favor of removing when the ordinance is under consideration.

“I think we all agree that euthanizing must be taken from the ordinance,” he said.

Other changes Mitchell would like to see include limiting ownership to two cats per household, keeping cats on owner’s property, disallowing keeping cat colonies and tethering of cats.

The next step council will take is offering Operation Fancy Free a chance to speak on the issue of cat population control.

As in past meetings, the American Rescue Plan Act funds were addressed. Chief uses of the funds are in the areas of infrastructure, public health, negative economic impact of COVID, and water and sewage.

Two requests from the Ravenswood Senior Center pool manger, DeDe Saffer, and Changa Engle, director of Jackson County Commission on Aging, were discussed in detail.