"We decided to bring it up because of vicious dogs," said David Agee (Tigrett, Bonicord, Fowlkes). "There's been report after report of vicious dogs in the county, and we can't do anything about it without this."

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Past county law allowed the legal seizure of only stray dogs.

In addition to the vicious dog law, the County Powers Act - a rule that would allow the county to exercise legal authority to regulate the actions of citizens living outside Dyersburg, Newbern or Trimble - was approved.

County attorney Michael Gauldin explained the County Powers Act, enacted by the General Assembly in the 1980s, was due primarily to zoning issues in rural counties.

"Cities generally have the power to do anything they want except in areas where the state law specifically says otherwise," said Gauldin. "Counties, on the other hand, have limited authority and can only act in those areas where the state has specifically empowered them to do so."

Local Government Committee chairman John Uitendaal (Newbern) voiced his disapproval of the measure, citing the freedom county residents have relative to city dwellers and the new "general police authority" language in the law.

Uitendaal was the sole dissenting vote, which had to pass by a two-thirds majority. Agee passed, making the vote 17-1-1. Commissioner Ralph Henson (Millsfield) was not at the meeting.

Gauldin explained any new measure expanding county enforcement under the County Power Act must be approved by two-thirds majority of the commission.

Commission Alan Burchfiel (Tatumville) said he was concerned applying the expanded power would translate into more work for an already-stretched county government.

Commissioner Terry McCreight (South Dyersburg) asked who would do the job.

"Who is actually going to enforce the law?"