Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Montgomery County Commissioners met in their formal session Monday, September 9 and one of the top items on the agenda included a resolution changing regulations for Montgomery County Animal Control and Adoption when it comes to shade for pets.
It was a unanimous vote by the commission to add an amendment to regulations requiring that all domestic dogs must be provided shade to protect them from direct sunlight when the temperature rises above 75 degrees. Members of the Humane Society of Clarksville-Montgomery County were in the audience at Monday’s meeting to show their support for the resolution.
After the vote, Tim Clifton, Director of Montgomery County Animal Control and Adoption talked about the commission’s action. “I’m very excited I think it’s a wonderful thing that the county commissioners approved this. It’s a great thing for the animals that are finally going to have some shade in the county and they can get out of the sun where they can be a little cooler,” Clifton said.
Also at the meeting the commission approved a budget amendment for the Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization (VSO). The VSO had asked for an additional $12,500 to extend the work of a temporary part-time counselor to help meet the needs of the public.
The workload of the VSO has gone up when it comes to the veteran population which grew from 21,924 in fiscal year 2012 to 25,331 in 2013 and those numbers are expected to increase.
In other business, commissioners voted to ask the Tennessee State Legislature to permit the Clarksville Department of Electricity to operate fiber optic facilities outside the city limits. The commission wants to make those services available to industrial and commercial developments in the county.
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library in Veterans Plaza will be getting a replacement heating and cooling system after funds for the project were authorized by commissioners.
Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers presented three proclamations at Monday’s county commission meeting. The first proclamation recognized September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Kelli Faerber, who recently lost her grandmother to the disease, led a group of supporters for ovarian cancer awareness and accepted the proclamation from Mayor Bowers.
The two other proclamations were joint efforts through both Montgomery County and the City of Clarksville. Mayor Bowers was joined by Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan as they both read portions of proclamations for Carbon Monoxide Awareness Day and the Silent Witness Project.
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Day is to remember the five members of Bikers Who Care (BWC) who died from carbon monoxide poisoning on September 18, 2011. Skylar Hughes, who had worked to have the day recognized to honor the memory of those who died came forward to accept the proclamation. The day also promotes awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide.
The final proclamation recognized the importance of Domestic Violence Awareness and the Silent Witness Project in Montgomery County. The Silent Witness Project honors the memory of the women, children and men who have lost their lives to domestic violence.
Deputy Peggy Macias with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office heads up the Silent Witness Initiative and Domestic Violence Awareness Program in the county. Macias was joined by Commissioner Tommy Vallejos, City Councilwoman Kaye Jones and three citizens who had lost family members to domestic violence.