Ephrata still allows dogs in park

EPHRATA - Ephrata will continue to allow pets in Sun Basin Plaza after a proposed ordinance change was rejected by the city council at its last meeting.

Jeremy Burns, Ephrata's fire chief, expressed concerns that dog owners were not taking responsibility for their animals' waste.

When the council asked if this ordinance was being enforced, Chief of Police Michael Warren jokingly responded that it wasn't the department's highest priority.

Councilwoman Kathleen Allstot was skeptical that the amended ordinance would be accepted by the public.

"I don't think that's going to fly since we have the farmer's market down there and when I've been down there people bring their dogs," Allstot said of the issue.

Other council members agreed with Allstot's stance and thought it would be too hard to regulate.

Cameras that were placed in Sun Basin Plaza to be used to monitor dog owners were quickly vandalized.

Police can give out a $137 citation to anyone they observe not picking up their animals' waste or who doesn't have the materials for disposing of it

Warren explained that he would love to station a patrolman at the plaza, but said it would cost the department extra money. It's not feasible because of the amount of calls officers respond to.

Without owners taking responsibility for waste left at the park it is difficult for police to track who are the main offenders.

"I don't mean to sound facetious, but we're not going to do DNA on it," Warren said.

Mayor Chris Jacobson suggested to first fix the cameras and then the ordinance can be discussed at a later date.