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Horse arena still standing at jail
Published March 22, 2007
FORT PAYNE—As of Tuesday, the Mounted Unit’s horse arena remained intact behind the DeKalb County Jail, where Sheriff Jimmy Harris maintains it will stay.
Harris has stated he will not take it down despite a letter hand delivered to him last Friday by County Attorney Rocky Watson from the DeKalb County Commission for immediate removal.
The commission has given Harris 14 days to remove the pen, which will culminate on Friday, March 30.
If nothing changes, which seems apparent, the situation will likely go to court.
Harris was unavailable for comment as of press time.
The commission approved at last week’s meeting for Watson to deliver the letter to Harris on the grounds of the commission not having been consulted nor having approved the placing of the horse arena.
The letter also cited liability concerns for injury to third persons on the property.
“We’re still where we were,” said Commission President Sid Holcomb. “We’re waiting to see what happens.”
The arena was built to train volunteer members of the DeKalb County Mounted Unit.
Last week, Harris received support from Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks in the form of a letter.
“Since horses have been in use for rescue and such other referenced purposes for many years,” Sparks wrote, “it would appear to me that every effort should be made to accommodate a training program through the Sheriff’s Office to provide horses, property and set up and support the use of horses in pursuit of safety, welfare and convenience of our people.”
In the letter, Sparks also said he was willing to commit to a $5,000 grant to the Mounted Unit.
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