Carrollton resident Bonnie Cabell came before Carrollton City Council on Monday asking city officials to help the growing stray cat problem in Carrollton, suggesting the city build a cat sanctuary.
Cabell, a retired teacher from Jefferson County who has lived in Carrollton for seven years, works with her adult sons to take care of not only their yards, but the yards of neighbors, a task made difficult she said by the number of stray and feral cats in the community.
While discussing the need to clean up the city, she noted that proliferation of feral and stray cats, which she said she tries to provide for and feed as many animals as she can, is becoming a problem for property owners and is not a good situation for the animals.
“It costs me a fortune to do it, but … if it gives a cat a chance at life and it gives an animal a chance, I’m gonna feed it,” Cabell said. However, she noted there is a limit to how many cats she can house and wishes that more people would adopt strays.
Cabell said that prior to attending the council meeting, she had spoken to a group in Oldham County that “was very receptive” and had offered to “supply pet food” for her and the cats, and suggested that she speak to the council members.
“We need a place as a cat sanctuary or something to do,” Cabell said. “I love animals, and I love cats … But I can only house so many. I can only do so much.”
Cabell noted that she hopes to one day win a lottery or inherit enough mponey to be able to donate to help forgotten and stray animals, especially cats. “I feel like those animals are just laying all over the community and it’s sad,” she said.
Mayor Robb Adams admitted that the proliferation of stray and feral cats is a problem in Carrollton and other communities. “We know it’s a problem,” he said. “It’s a problem that every city deals with — big and smal — all the way down to small cities like Worthville.”
However, he also noted that according to the Kentucky Revised Statutes, animal control is a “function of county government” and “our county chooses not to make their animal shelter a cat shelter.
“I don’t mean to pass the buck onto somebody else, I’m just stating the facts and that is something that I would discuss with your county government,” Adams said.
Cabell asked if city officials would ever consider being involved in helping with the stray cat issue. Adams said the city “won’t have any involvement” and is “not equipped to handle that.”
Council Member Deidra Hays also suggested that Cabell bring her issue to Carroll Fiscal Court at its next meeting.
• Hays brought up her concerns over some motorists ignoring barricades and driving through festival areas, noting the city need to do better at enforcing the rules on street closures and enforcement of areas restricted to traffic.
She recalled an issue during the recent Harry Potter Halloween event when “someone pulled up right in the middle of the children’s costume contest and parked.” When Hays approached the man, he told her he lived in the area and had come and gone multiple times.
“I get that they live down there, but during these events … people deserve to have a safe area to enjoy the events and not have to worry about people ripping through there,” she said.
She added that a few people were even seen “moving the barricades” that were placed to block traffic in restricted areas and others were simply “driving around” barricades.
Hays suggested the city send letters to “residents and the landlords” in the affected areas informing them that the city will begin strict enforcement of street closures at future events and then follow up a few days before the event to deliver a letter to residents, possibly placing them on the doors or signage, with the dates and times vehicles should be cleared out and that traffic will be restricted.
Adams agreed that the problem will require more that just barricades, especially in areas that are difficult to barricade. He added that they will also work on better notification of residents pertaining to street closures and that the changes should be made in time for the Christmas event in December.
Council member Linda Davis suggested signage during these events, especially for cars, trucks, and even golf carts.
• The council approved allowing George Rogers Clark North Trail High school to use Point Park for a bass tournament scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 2-3. The pavilion will be used for weigh-ins and the group will have “exclusive use of the boat ramp” for their boats.
The next city council meeting is 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11.
