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News
By Quinn Illi
CRYSTAL FALLS – No less than five residents spoke about the live-trapping of cats within city limits at the May 13 meeting of the Crystal Falls City Council.
“Most cats don’t stray far from their homes, but when you pick them up and relocate them, they get lost, confused and eaten by predators,” said Floyd Bowman who spoke against trapping. “…Feral cats serve a purpose, they kill rodents.”
He said that if residents insist on trapping stray or feral cats, they should take the cat to get spayed or neutered and then release it back where it was originally found. Bowman also requested the city to create a permit for live-trapping of this nature.
According to the City, there is no ordinance that prevents live trapping and it is allowed even within city limits.
Robert Damske spoke next, in stark contrast to Bowman.
“I am the reason this is happening and I will get your cats,” Damske said, referring to Bowman. “I’ve been trapping cats and everyone says that I’m cruel to them. I have released them into the wild because they have no collars.”
Collars or not, it remained unclear if Damske is trapping truly feral cats (which are not domesticated), stray cats (which are domesticated but may have escaped or be lost), or if any cat allowed outdoors is at risk of falling into one of the traps and being forcibly relocated.
Damske spoke against letting cats “run wild” and offered a rebuttal to Bowmans idea of requiring a permit for the live trapping of animals — citing the toxicity of cat feces and accused the felines of inviting predators and even attacking a mailman.
“Somebody has got to clean the streets up,”Damske said.
Mayor Mike McCarthy then made mention to Ordinance No. 2.07, the Animal Nuisance Ordinance which states that the owner of an animal must exercise proper care to prevent the animal becoming a nuisance. (The full ordinance is available to the public at City Hall.)
A nuisance is defined in this ordinance as “excessive, continuous or untimely barking or other disturbing noises, molesting passersby, chasing vehicles, habitually attacking other domestic animals, trespassing upon school grounds, or trespassing upon private property in such a manner as to damage property.”
Crystal Falls limits each household to a maximum of four animals, barring a commercial kennel license.
McCarthy directed anyone with a trapped cat to hand the animal over to the Northwoods Animal Shelter.
“I would like to make a response,” Bowman said, “because some of the things that [Damske] is saying is incorrect. It’s still a felony to be cruel to—”
“When was I cruel?” Damske interrupted.
McCarthy directed Damske to leave the meeting, which he abided while continuing to yell, “When was I cruel?” as he exited.
Additional commentators took a more measured approach than Damske, but did point to cat problems in the city including droppings and urine on private lawns, particularly along High Street.
“It is not OK to let feral cats run around town,” said Barbara Luck, “It is cruel … Just because you feed something doesn’t mean that you’re taking care of it.”
TNR, which stands for “trap-neuter-return” to the place the animal was found, is considered the only humane and effective way to control the growth of truly feral cat populations.
The Crystal Falls City Council also addressed the following matters at it’s May Meeting:
• A special meeting date was set for June 3 at 8 a.m. to hold public hearings regarding a potential grant for a sidewalk area from Wagner Street, Fairbanks Road, and North Sixth Street and bond money for water, sewer, electric, and roadway infrastructure in the Western Location.
• A public hearing was held regarding the millage that is used to pay for fire protection from the Crystal Falls Township Fire Department for the City of Crystal Falls in which the millage was renewed with no changes.
• James Nocerini Sr. was reappointed to the Crystal Falls Planning Commission.
• Funds are being requested for the resurfacing of Erie Ave., Floodstrand Rd., Fairbanks Rd., Water St., Wisconsin Ave., S. 7th St., Runkle Lake Rd., Rock Crusher Rd., and N. 6th St., which will allow those roads as well as many others to be resurfaced and otherwise maintained.
The Crystal Falls City Council meets on the second Monday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Crystal Falls City Hall. The next meeting is June 10. More information is available at crystalfalls.org/city-council.