Metro 07/15/13

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The Tractor Pull at Ottawa Co. Fair

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July 15, 2013

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Canal widening See page 6

Serving The Eastern Maumee Bay Communities Since 1972

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Craig fears eminent domain on the horizon By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com

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uote of The Week

...you change the channel. You don’t sit there and suffer. Bryan Golden See Opinion page

Every animal I have here has been rescued from someone who didn’t want them.

District 3 Councilman Mike Craig joined 10 colleagues Tuesday in overriding Mayor Michael Bell’s veto, effectively stopping a $700,000 appropriation to purchase and then destroy homes for the expansion of Toledo’s Collins Park Water Treatment Plant. The $314 million expansion was mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and has to be completed within five years. The city contacted 28 Birmingham neighborhood homeowners in East Toledo to see if they would be willing to sell their property. The city was looking for two separate groups of four contingent properties to make room for two new substations and construction staging areas. Council had originally authorized the money, but at-large Councilman Shaun Enright, an East Toledo resident, led legislation to rescind the authorization, which was approved by an 8-4 vote. After Bell’s veto, council voted 11-1 to override. Craig, representing East Toledo, was originally one of the four voting against rescinding. By voting to override, he effectively voted to rescind. His original intentions when voting to support the authorization — he would rather see property owners willingly sell than see the city take properties by eminent domain. Now, he’s worried that will happen. “I didn’t change my mind on the situation,” Craig said. “You know what — I don’t think anything good is going to come of this. They need more of the property over there and they are going to have to get it, and this council is going to have to vote for it. All they are doing is putting off the inevitable. “Look, (East Toledo Family Center community builder) Jodi Gross wrote me an email trying to remind me who I represent. There are 40 people over there who are upset. I’ve got 47,996 people and every one of those will be mad if something goes wrong with that water plant.”

Gary, a 25 year old lion lets out a yawn as he poses with his owner, Ken Hetrick. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)

New law takes effect

Animal refuge may close, owner says By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com The future of a wild animal refuge in Stony Ridge is in question as a new state law that enacts a wide-ranging permit and regulation program for such animals takes effect. Ken Hetrick, owner of Tiger Ridge Exotics, said the cost of permits and other related expenses in the law may force him to close the refuge he’s operated for more than 30 years as a non-commercial venture that relies on donations to help meet costs. The Ohio Dangerous Wild Animal Act bans unpermitted ownership of certain animals and reptiles by Jan. 1, 2014. The restricted list covers lions, tigers and other “large cats”, bears, elephants, certain monkeys, rhinos, alligators, crocodiles, anacon-

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das and pythons longer than 12 feet, certain vipers and venomous snakes. Affected owners were required to register their animals with the Ohio Department of Agriculture by Nov. 2, 2012 and they must obtain permits between Oct. 1 of this year and Jan. 1. “Wildlife shelter” permits cost $250 for one to three animals and up to $1,000 for 11 to 15 animals. There is a $125 fee for each animal over the 15 limit. In addition, owners must obtain liability insurance or a surety bond of $200,000 to $1 million depending on the number of animals. The law also mandates separate permits for owners intending to breed wild animals solely for species survival programs and not planning to acquire new animals and rescue facilities as well as restricted snakes. Those costs and other expenses stemming from the new regulations have Het-

rick wondering if his refuge can remain open. Currently, it is home to seven tigers, three lions, a black leopard, a grizzly bear, timber wolves, and a liger. He’s received a quote of $84,000 from one contractor for changing the chain-link fencing to the fence gauge stipulated in the new law. And he’s leery of having his animals micro-chipped – another requirement in the law unless exempted. “I have all of my animals registered and started with my grizzly bear for the microchip,” he said. “Two days later she’s laying out there dead. Some are so old they can’t take the tranquilizing drug to put the chip in. One lion is 25 years old, another is 24 years old, and the liger has cancer. Every animal I have here has been rescued from someone who didn’t want them.”

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Closing 5:00 Fri. 7/19 Closed Sat. 7/20

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