Village of Mariemont adopts emergency dog ordinance after child attack; permits required for South 80 off-leash area

Mayor Bill Brown presided over a heated May 26 council meeting that ended with council adopting an emergency amendment to section 90.01 of the Village of Mariemont Code of Ordinances that requires dogs to be leashed in public except where a police‑managed permit allows off‑leash activity in the "South 80." Mayor Bill Brown said council had "a dog ordinance with teeth, pardon the pun, in place."

The ordinance follows a safety‑committee review spurred by an off‑leash attack near Button Becker Park. Safety committee chair Alicia Stock read the committee's May 12 minutes, which recommend permitting responsible, registered dogs to run off leash in the South 80, require a village tag and a suggested one‑time $50 fee, give the police department responsibility for maintaining records and managing permits, and add authority for the chief of police to revoke permits for cause. "We want to give the chief the teeth to react first," Chief Rick Hines said; he told council the department will implement the permitting and tagging process "as soon as possible" once ordinance language and signage are finalized.

The council heard more than an hour of public comment before the vote. Residents described fear after a recent attack and urged fast action. Amanda Ross, a mother of three, said she supported leash requirements in public spaces and "would strongly prefer that [an off‑leash area] be completely fenced in," adding concern that a broadly off‑leash South 80 could push dog activity into other parks. Jeff Harmon, a parent in attendance, and a physician who treats dog‑bite injuries described severe outcomes they have seen and urged prioritizing children’s safety over convenience for owners.

Council members pressed for clearer legal language on liability. Several residents asked whether the ordinance's draft could be read to make owners of leashed dogs liable if their leashed animal engaged another; councilors agreed that provision needs clarification from solicitor Ed McTig and said the ordinance will be amended if necessary. Councilors also noted the recent state update to Ohio law — House Bill 247 — which changes how local authorities and dog wardens manage and label dangerous dogs; members said state law will guide local enforcement and any necessary wording adjustments.

On motions called later in the meeting, the council accepted the safety committee's report and then moved to suspend rules and adopt the dog ordinance on an emergency basis after debate. A roll call recorded votes from Mayor Bill Brown, Dr. Marcy Lewis, Alicia Stock, Bob Van Stone and Mrs. Wells in favor; the ordinance passed. Council asked Chief Hines to coordinate temporary signage, a QR code that can direct people to permit information, and the police‑station vetting process to prevent dogs with local bite records from receiving permits. Alicia Stock said the permitting step is intended so "if I don't see that tag, I can call the police and say, 'Hey, there's a dog off leash that's not permitted.'"

The council and speakers emphasized the ordinance is not necessarily final. Several members noted the approach could be reevaluated after implementation and amended with solicitor review. "We can always amend it later when we can get to Ed and have him read that," one councilor said. The most immediate next steps are finalizing precise ordinance language with the solicitor, preparing temporary signage at affected park entrances, and establishing the permit application and vetting procedure at the police department.