WILSON — Concerns about pit bull dogs and poultry were voiced during Monday’s meeting of the Wilson City Council.

Jocelyn Soukup, Wilson, said she received a letter from the city on July 17 regarding the alleged existence of poultry on her property on 29th Street.

Soukup said she was surprised to receive the letter without any proper notification or communication from the city regarding the matter.

“I do not, and have never had, any kind of poultry at my current residence,” she said.

Soukup said she values the reputation she has built in the community.

“I would appreciate a fair and unbiased assessment of the situation,” she said, adding a request that the city provide her an explanation of how this misunderstanding occurred.

City Clerk Susan Kriley said the letter sent to Soukup was one of two letters sent out to residents that day just for documentation.

“The letter is a documentation of notification versus calling or having somebody drive by your house,” Kriley said. “That’s just our policy of how we do it when something is turned in.”

Council member Jeremy Hlad said the letter sent to Soukup should have been clearer. He noted that letters sent to residents in the future regarding poultry need to be updated and clarified to make them clear.

Regarding the council’s review of the current ban on pit bulls and pit bull mixes, Wilson resident Tammy Pellant, owner of a dog that has some pit bull in it, said her main concern is about all the cats running loose in her neighborhood, in her yard and on her porch, as well as the dogs across the street who bark all the time.

“I think you guys need to worry about those things that we have here that are causing a problem,” she said. “If there is a pit bull that causes a problem, then that needs to be an issue.”

Pellant said she bought her dog from the Humane Society, and she believes that if people are buying animals from the Humane Society and trying to save them, it’s right for them to do so and people should be allowed to have them.

“I don’t believe it is the breed of the dog, I believe it’s just the human being that has them,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair to pick on the dog.”

Pellant said her dog is 9 years old.

“So, if you tell me that because she might have a little pit in her that I’ve got to get rid of her, I’m going to tell you to fine me every day because she’s like my kid, you know?”

Since the entire council was not present at the meeting, Council President Dan Taylor moved the discussion on the current ban to the Aug. 21 meeting.

In other business:

• Approval was given to pay the payroll in the amount of $13,659.66 and to pay bills in the amount of $54,895.65.

• Hlad said he had received concerns from people who attended the Czech Festival regarding their shoes sticking to the street because of the hot temperatures.

City Superintendent Joe Soukup said he had also heard those concerns and clarified those were from people participating in the corn hole tournament. Soukup explained that the tar applied to the street during chip and seal work became sticky due to the heat. He suggested that the city sprinkle some “sugar” sand on the street in that area in the future to remedy the situation.

• Approval was given to purchase a new cash/coin-capable waterman, at a cost not to exceed $5,500. It will replace the current model the city operates, which is over 40 years old.

• Approval was given to the successful completion of James Reagan’s probation period as Wilson Police chief.

The next meeting of the Wilson City Council will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, at city hall.