Jackson City Council rejects ordinance that would allow residents to own ‘farm animals’
The ordinance would have considered it illegal for pigs to weigh more than 100 pounds
By Chloe Miller
MLive
Jul 15, 2021
Excerpt:
The ordinance came after a number of residents expressed support for local efforts to source eggs, honey and other products.
“I believe there is interest of this kind of activity within the city. Obviously there are people already undertaking this activity without the need of law enforcement officers,” Dobies said. “I think that us constructively setting a policy to allow this activity within reason is the right thing to do.”
Council members who voted against the resolution cited safety and enforcement concerns. In the ordinance, there was no clear verbiage on who would enforce the ordinance, said Schlecte, who voted against it.
“We have two animal catchers in the county. (What if) someone decided it’s too cold to feed their chickens – or the pig gets to be 101 (pounds), whose house is going to be enforced and do we have the manpower to do that?” Schlecte said. “I assume it’s not going to land on the shoulders of our police department. They have other crime fighting they have to do.”
