By Vince Lennon
Trenton, GA – The city of Trenton and Dade County’s proposed joint animal control effort received an unexpected boost last week in the police raid of a longtime puppy mill, believed to have operated “hidden in plain view” for more than a dozen years.
Officials with the Georgia Department of Agriculture say 256 animals, mostly dogs, were seized by agents July 1st from the home at 181 Sells Lane, described by responders as a den of filth covered in trash and excrement.
44 year old Nathaniel Levon Curington and his 45 year old wife Aimee Renee Curington of Trenton were arrested last Wednesday by Dade County Sheriff’s deputies on seven felony counts of animal cruelty. Observers believe the criminal charges are based on the number of deceased animals reportedly found within the home and property.
In Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the city commission, Trenton Mayor Alex Case said he didn’t want to discuss too much about the ongoing investigation publicly, but strongly suggested the collective embarrassment he felt for the community should prompt commissioners into action regarding TDAC, the working acronym for the proposed Trenton Dade Animal Center.
Mayor Case asked commissioners to review the proposed changes to animal control laws, striving for greater uniformity and enforcement between city and county government for animal related service calls.
Case said as he watched the horde of severely neglected bulldogs and pomeranians treated at the scene, he promised himself to never allow such a tragedy to happen again in the city of Trenton. Mayor Case said he tried imagining what neighbors living near the squalor had endured; much less witnessed.
“It feels great to know that people in this community are ready to address the problem,” said interim TDAC Director Emily Richards on the Sells Lane travesty.
Richards says she was impressed to see Mayor Case as well as Trenton Police Chief Steve Beaudoin at the scene, which took more than 14 hours to process. All the animals were then distributed to a multitude of area rescue groups for ongoing after care and hopefully, eventual adoption.
“I want to see this momentum continue,” said Richards, who told the commission that she is emulating the Athens-Clarke County model as the working template for the proposed TDAC facility.
Richards, currently managing the Trenton Animal Shelter, says a revamp of user fees is sorely needed, noting it would be cheaper for the owner of a running dog to “adopt” the animal again for $20, than pay the current $25 reclamation fee.
In other commission moves, a proposed hotel/motel alcohol sales license was tabled once again for additional consideration, much to the chagrin of Ryan Faircloth, owner of Trenton’s Groovy Nomad.
Months ago, Faircloth tendered an attorney-drawn revision of Trenton municipal law for consideration. The proposed changes would allow for an adjoining lounge to operate on Faircloth’s Highway 11 motor court, formerly known as the Southland Motel.
Mayor Case asked Faircloth to address the panel in person Monday night, after no commissioner responded to the applicant’s previous overture.
If Trenton Police Commissioner Mike Norris’ reaction is indicative of his eventual vote; future guests of the Groovy Nomad may want to include a brown bag in their overnight luggage.
Norris says the greater majority of citizens he has spoken with are against having a “bar type atmosphere” inside the city limits.
Norris says there are currently two bars operating in Trenton, both inside Mexican restaurants, as well as Jefferson’s just outside the city limits.
Faircloth said the establishments in question close relatively early, compared to what he envisions as an 11pm last call for the proposed lounge.
Commissioner Monda Wooten apologized for missing the previous meeting on the Groovy Nomad motion and follow-up, but said she wanted more time to research the proposal before making any decision.
In other action, the commission approved two agenda items squarely focused on planned growth and future home construction in the valley. Trenton city officials agreed with the Dade County Board of Commissioners to apply for QLG status, or a Qualified Local Government in GICH, Georgia’s Initiative for Community Housing program.
There is a July 31st deadline to apply for 2025 GICH consideration.
Secondly, Trenton City Commissioners agreed to model a future Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control ordinance, to comply with the Georgia Erosion & Sediment Control Act of 1975.
The next meeting of Trenton’s City Commission is set for August 11th at 6pm at Trenton City Hall.
