Oran now takes on nuisances, unleashed dogs

~ To avoid stirring up his detractors, the police chief has given residents advanced notice of the campaign.

ORAN, Mo. -- Things seemed to have calmed down for police chief Marc Tragesser since he started his job in Oran last summer.

For months after Tragesser took the post, he had to battle fierce opposition to his style of law enforcement -- one that is much more aggressive than that of former chief Howard Stevens.

Now police issues could heat up again. The city government of Oran has now made eliminating unsightly yard nuisances -- high grass and abandoned cars -- and enforcing dog leash laws a priority.

Mayor Tom Urhahn said now that Tragesser's department has addressed public safety issues like driving while intoxicated and speeding, it's time to get tough on beautification.

"We're wanting to start cleaning up," Urhahn said. "It's gotten to the point where it seems some people don't care anymore."

Tragesser said fighting nuisance violations hasn't been a priority in the past, but now that other issues are seemingly resolved, the police plan to place nuisance enforcement near the top of the list.

"All this does is ensure that you get all the junk out of there and beautify the community," Tragesser said. "That will help bring people and business into the community."

Oran isn't the only city area dealing with yard nuisances. Scott City has been battling them for years, ramping up efforts with new ordinances and making the issue a police priority.

Like Scott City, Oran has ordinances prohibiting tall grass and junk such as abandoned cars in yards. But Scott City's police chief has never met the opposition Tragesser has.

The Oran chief is concerned that his detractors may be stirred up again by increased enforcement. To counter that possibility, the chief has given residents advanced notice of the campaign, he said.

Urhahn said he expects Tragesser's department to work its way into enforcing nuisance ordinances gently. Urhahn said he also thinks the majority of the city residents will support the efforts.

In past weeks, Urhahn said, residents have been vocal about nuisances.

"I really think the only ones that we'll get complaints from are those not in compliance," he said.

Complaints have also poured in about dogs running free about town. City ordinances require dogs to be leashed, but some residents have ignored that law, Tragesser said.

In response, the city has assigned some city employees to serve as dog catchers.

Tragesser said his department has issued five citations for leash-law violations, but many residents don't understand that police can only issue those citations if they directly observe a violation. Without that, a resident must file a formal complaint before a dog owner can be cited.

Otherwise, Tragesser said, the dog problem needs to be taken care of by a dog catcher.

City Alderwoman Brenda Cook said during the last city council meeting on Monday she's received many complaints about dogs at large.

Tragesser said stopping leash-law violations is an important issue tied to nuisances. Like nuisances, dogs running free in the streets have the power to drive visitors away from town, he said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182