Banning pit bulls could make things worse, officer claims
Staff writer
Marion City Council members took a deeper dive Monday into the city’s dog ordinance, revisiting a conten-tious issue of whether certain breeds should be banned in the city.
Police chief Aaron Slater, who earlier proposed lifting a current ban, invited Newton animal control officer Lyndsey Robinette to provide insight from a community without a breed-specific ban.
Robinette, who has nearly seven years of experience in Newton, said pit bull-type dogs accounted for 26% of reported bites over the past three years but also represented a large share of the overall dog population.
In 2023, Newton recorded 59 bites compared with 46 in 2024 and 43 in 2025. While pit bull-type dogs made up the largest percentage, Robinette said, other breeds, and even cats, were involved in a significant number of incidents.
She cautioned against breed bans, arguing they can create unintended consequences.
“Those dogs are still going to be there,” she said. “They’re just going to be hidden, which means they’re not socialized or exercised, and that can create more problems.”
Robinette noted enforcement challenges, including the legal status of animals as property in Kansas.
Removing a dog based solely on breed could require a search warrant, something she said courts were unlikely to grant for a city code violation.
Instead, she advocated a “dangerous dog” approach focused on behavior and owner responsibility.
Newton relies on case-by-case evaluations, education, and, when necessary, court action to designate individual animals as dangerous.
Council members pressed a few fronts, including whether education of owners could be strengthened and how to balance public safety with fairness to responsible pet owners. The discussion also pointed to strong public opposition earlier this month when repeal of the breed ban was discussed.
Voters in Salina this week reject lifting a ban on certain breeds of dogs.
Council members expressed interest in reviewing a rewritten ordinance Robinette prepared that would streamline language and emphasize behavior-based enforcement.
The issue is expected to return for further discussion.
In other business, water plant operator Jason Wheeler outlined a wide range of improvements requested at Marion’s water treatment plant while signaling that more significant investments might be needed.
Over the past two years, the city has completed upgrades including recoating a water tower, installing new valves and hydrants to improve system control, replacing outdated monitoring equipment, upgrading pumps, and improving lighting and workspace conditions inside the plant.
Those changes have made operations more efficient, he said, in some cases reducing tasks that previously required multiple workers.
He also highlighted operational challenges, including sediment buildup in clarifiers.
A key concern is the city’s ozone treatment system. One of two units is offline because of a failed circuit board, leaving the city without redundancy. While the remaining unit continues to operate, Wheeler said, a failure would force the city to rely on chlorine treatment, which could create compliance issues with regulatory limits.
Wheeler is seeking proposals for a replacement system that would provide more reliable, modular operation and backup capacity. He pointed to potential funding opportunities through state programs, though a recent proposal to seek funding from the Kansas Water Office was tabled.
Council members also continued reviewing the city’s strategic plan, focusing on long-term priorities such as infrastructure maintenance, economic development, and community image.
Topics included the need for consistent city branding, ongoing investment in utilities like the water system, and efforts to improve quality-of-life amenities that support growth.
City Administrator Brian Wells framed the plan as an evolving guide, with projects like alley improvements, facility upgrades, and equipment replacement reflecting the city’s broader goal of maintaining services while planning for future needs.
Council members briefly discussed but took no action on a proposed new city logo, includ-ing simplified versions for use on vehicles, signage, and promotional materials.