News-Record.com

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By C.G. Patton

Referencing your article, “Council amenda policy on chickens,” it gives me great comfort to know that our city council has taken the time to address such an important issue as chickens. I will sleep better tonight knowing that a chicken patrol is out there at 4:30 in the morning listening for maybe two or three roosters crowing. Will they carry a gun or an ax?

Don’t ask Police Chief Tim Bellamy for this chicken patrol when you can’t support the shortage of funds and personnel that already exists.

Since the City Council has now resolved this major issue of chickens, please consider the following issues:

* Pass an ordinance forbidding tractors and tractor trailers in or parked in residential neighborhoods. Many areas on the south side are plagued with these vehicles. On any given day Cypress Park Road has a big rig. Sometimes a trailer is dropped for two or three days.

* At the corner of Cypress Park and Pinecroft roads there is what the city calls a “bog garden.” This low area used to be a lake.

After the development of Lamrocton subdivision it was filled with runoff and became a mosquito-infested swamp. I ask the council to dredge this swamp and return it to a lake.

* Have all dog owners of potentially dangerous breeds register these animals and submit vet medical records for review. If they are unable to do this, their animals should be removed.

* Forbid forever the beggars, crack heads and drunks from standing on our street corners with their signs of distress.

* Lastly, increase the litter fines to $1,000 first offense, $5,000 second offense and jail plus fine for the third offense. I am sick of people littering!

The writer lives in Greensboro.