Jeanne Mims came before the Thorsby Council during its meeting on Monday and wanted answers for why her dog was taken away and put down by a court ruling.

She called for the removal of Police Chief Rodney Barnett, who she held accountable for the dog’s death.

“I have a business out of my house and if she bit someone, there would be a paper trail to prove it,” Mims said. “You [the Council] owe us a sensible and truthful person as Chief of Police.”

However, Mayor Robert Hight and the rest of the Council were quick to defend Barnett and informed her that there were multiple complaints filed about her dog and that information is documented.

“We’re not going to fire someone for performing something that was court ordered,” Hight said.

According to John Hollis Jackson Jr., the town’s attorney, the decision to take the dog was the court’s decision and the police department was just acting on behalf of the court.

“There is an extensive file that people have been chased by the dog, including joggers and garbage men,” Jackson said. “The Council does not have the authority to go behind and change a court ruling.”

Also on the agenda on Monday, were proposed changes to the town’s zoning ordinance that would deal with mobile homes on residential-rule properties.

According to Glenn Littleton, on the planning and zoning board, the primary area of town that the ordinance would affect is along Medical Center Drive.

“It is considered a hardship to tell a person that they have to build a certain square-foot home if the majority around are not,” Littleton said. “It comes down to an economic issue.”

All changes will go before the zoning board for approval and must meet all health and sanitary codes.

The change was approved by the Council and was the end result of an eight-month process.

In other news from the meeting, the Council:

• Discussed looking into fixing or replacing the town’s limb truck and agreed to get a rough estimate.
• Rescheduled the Council meeting on Jan. 9 to Jan. 10.
• The Council’s annual safety meeting is scheduled for Dec. 15.
• The Thorsby Fire Department will soon release the routes for this year’s Santa run.