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Century Postpones Barnyard Animal Ordinance To Consider Options
October 22, 2013
The Century Town Council has put a proposed new barnyard animal control ordinance out to pasture while new options are explored.
Monday night, the council considered an ordinance that would make it illegal to keep any horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep or cattle within the town limits, except on property zoned as agricultural. There are only three parcels of land in the town currently zoned agricultural.
“It is a bother and there is a problem with neglect and abuse,” Century resident and horse owner Maggie Waters told the council. “We need to enforce the laws in place…why should we suffer because there are others that can’t follow the existing law?”
Mayor Freddie McCall said those that already have barnyard animals could be grandfathered under a new ordinance, or could be required to apply for variance. Variances could be issued on an case by case basis, town consultant Debbie Nickles added.
Resident Helen Mincy questioned if there would be any specific lot sizes that might be grandfathered or rezoned agricultural under a barnyard animal ordinance. “I don’t want cattle next to me,” she said. “I don’t want to smell manure.”
“A lot of the threat is based upon if you are that neighbor and you are having to deal with it,” Nickles said.
Council President Ann Brooks said any barnyard animal ordinance should include provisions for minimum acreage and fencing.
Nickles will research options and return with a new ordinance at the council’s next meeting on November 4.
McCall said the need for an ordinance was raised after an individual purchased five acres zoned residential on Hudson Hill Road with the intent to bring in goats and chickens on the property. “We don’t have an ordinance to take care of that.”
Pictured: The Century Town Council meets Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click toe enlarge.
Comments
10 Responses to “Century Postpones Barnyard Animal Ordinance To Consider Options”
I see the potential for a reality TV series, that would surpass in popularity any thing preceding it.
Small Town Administration, coming this fall. Check your local listings.
@Maggie, you are so right with your comment about banning all idiots, but that would never happen because some of the ones enforcing the ordinace would fall under the guidelines themselves.
I think that this City seems to keep overlooking Important issues that this Town has like all these abandoned and eye sore shacks that are a danger to the community and every child that walks by them,. knowing what could be lurking inside. Worry about things that matter before they try to make a name for themselves by trying to pass ordinance they need to fix the ones they are ignoring first!!!
If I sat all day in a little ivory tower with time on my hands, I suppose that my mind could drift toward thoughts of the unconventional and even the absurd.
Don’t judge the Century City Council until you have spent time in their chairs.
Remember they have no one to blame but you as you sat them there in the first place.
I can only hope that they incorporate some kind of grandfather clause into it. Personally I don’t think the situation that started the so called “need” for this ordinance was just about a few chickens or goats. I have (by county law) the appropriate acreage for the two horses that I own, and I am considered inside city limits. I understand that there are people that feel like there should not be a farm type environment within these limits. That’s fine, that’s YOUR opinion. Don’t have a farm, but for those of us who enjoy it & are responsible for it’s up-keep, let us be. It is my opinion that we shouldn’t have people over consuming alcohol & fighting each other in the streets, but I don’t see anyone rushing to enforce an ordinance of banning all idiots.
We are small town a country town. There are suppose to be farm animals.. if people don’t like the animals they should move back to the city. There are way more serious issues that should be addressed. What a joke for even considering something so dumb.
The town council can’t be serious. You own 5 acres and they would not allow you to have a few goats and chickens roaming about? Anyone buying a lot that size is looking for country living. God knows there are plenty of subdivisions and beach condos to accommodate people that prefer city life.
Will the ordinance also include chickens? I ask because one of the individuals on the Town of Century Council has kept chickens in their backyard for years.
For a town that has eighteen year old drunks beating pregnant thirty year old baby mamas in the streets, farm animals should be the least concern.
Are we going to pass a law that disallows barnyard animals within the city limits or are just trying to make some folk mad. Get some guts and do what you need to do. Pass the law. I don’t know what is recommended but I would think that to keep folk happy there should be at least one acre per barnyard animal. Just saying.