BROWNSTOWN

The practice of raising horses and other livestock in Browns-town might soon come to an end.

The town council has been

examining the issue for several months after residents on the southeast side of town complained about the odors caused by a family raising a pig and other animals for 4-H.

After the county fair in

July, the family got rid of

the animals.

Because of the complaints, however, the council decided to look at the town’s animal control ordinance to see if it could be changed to help deal with similar complaints.

Town attorney Rodney Farrow was asked to strengthen the portion of the ordinance dealing with domestic livestock, including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, roosters, geese, ducks, turkeys and peacocks.

On Monday, during the council’s first meeting of the year at town hall, council President John Nolting introduced a revised ordinance. He said the changes don’t specifically target those raising livestock for 4-H projects but likely would bar such efforts in the future.

Anyone with livestock, including horses, at this time would be allowed to keep them if they agreed to register the animals with the town. No one can start raising livestock in town limits once the ordinance is enacted. That could happen as early as the council’s next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19.

The livestock limitations would apply to horses, pigs, cows, goats and other animals. The amended version also included a provision allowing residents to keep up to six chickens (not roosters) in town.

Councilman Bill Sweeney said he felt that provision was just inviting problems. He said he didn’t know of anyone raising chickens in town and saw no need for the provision to let people do so now.

Farrow said that was a provision the council could omit if desired.

In the past, some town residents have raised horses, and there might be some people living just inside the town limits with horses or cattle now.

He said most of the changes to the ordinance involve removing unneeded and unused provisions and cleaning up language.

Nolting later said the ordinance likely would keep kids from raising livestock in town for 4-H projects.

The family that did so this past year, however, plans to move away from town or already has done so, he said.

A copy of the ordinance is available at town hall, 200 W. Walnut St.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

What: Brownstown Town Council meeting

When: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19

Where: Brownstown Town Hall, 200 W. Walnut St.

[sc:pullout-text-end]