Commissioner Jimmy Patterson and committee chairman P.T. "Biff" Farrar follow the discussion during Tuesday's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday evening, added its endorsement to some proposed additions to the county's animal control rules.

The proposed rules require that dogs or cats kept as pets must be adequately sheltered and kept in disease-free conditions.

The changes had been proposed by Bedford County Animal Control and had already been endorsed by the commission's law enforcement and workhouse committee, which supervises the animal control program. They will now go to the full commission for approval.

The proposed rules require that outdoor pets must have a shelter enclosed on three sides and situated so that it is dry inside. It must be large enough to allow the pet to turn around inside, and it must be kept clean.

The proposed rules also prohibit animals from being kept under "conditions which increase the probability of the transmission of disease." Carcasses, debris, food waste and excrement must be removed from the area where the animal is housed.

In other discussion Tuesday evening:

* The committee placed four appointments to the Emergency Communications District (E-911) board on the full commission's June agenda. County Mayor Eugene Ray will make the appointments, subject to confirmation by the commission.

The third district seat now held by Jimmy Patterson, the sixth district seat now held by Cort Huffman and the ninth district seat now held by Charles McDonald, who chairs the board, are up for appointment on the regular schedule. There is also a mid-term vacancy in the first district seat which had been held by Roy Ferguson, who moved out of the district and resigned.

Ray said he has not yet determined whom he will appoint or reappoint to the seats.

* Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman presented three standard annual resolutions to the board.

One is to allow the county's mass transit funding from the state to be given to Shelbyville & Bedford County Senior Citizens Center for operation of its mass transit van program.

The second authorizes the highway department to perform work for other government entities and agencies, provided it is reimbursed.

The third authorizes the county to apply for the annual litter and trash collection grant from the state.

The rules committee voted to recommend approval of all three resolutions.