News Staff Writer

ONAWAY – City commissioners are considering a proposed ordinance that would largely prohibit keeping livestock within Onaway’s city limits, with a few exceptions.

The proposed ordinance would prevent people from keeping livestock in the city unless they’re housed 250 feet or more from any neighboring houses and there are not more than 13 residential dwellings within an eighth-mile of where the livestock are kept. City Attorney Mike Vogler said the requirements are in line with what the Michigan Commission on Agriculture and Rural Development considers as suitable places for farm animals.

Those who live in the city but whose property wouldn’t meet the requirements could still keep chickens, geese, ducks or turkeys, according to the ordinance. They could keep up to eight birds and 10 chicks younger than five weeks old, as long as they’re kept in a pen at least 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling. Roosters would be prohibited.

City Manager Joe Hefele said the ordinance is being considered in response to some complaints he’s heard, especially from one neighborhood. There are no ordinances on the book regulating farm animals in the city, and Hefele said he’s heard comments from residents who were concerned about a neighbor’s plans to keep farm animals on their property.

While Mayor Gary Wregglesworth said he didn’t want the city to seem heavy-handed, he agreed something needs to be done before any serious problems develop.

“We hate to do more ordinances, but at this point I think we’re going to have to do something,” he said. “People are abusing the situation and creating problems. We have people free-ranging chickens, and we can’t have that in town.”

Nearby Rogers City allows chickens after adopting an ordinance saying so in 2012. Residents of the county seat are limited to four, and can only keep hens as proposed for Onaway. They also need to be kept in enclosures, no slaughtering is allowed outside and owners must obtain a permit, among other restrictions. Many of these provisions are mirrored in Onaway’s proposed ordinance.

City commissioners agreed unanimously to table the ordinance until their May 18 meeting. In the meantime, Wregglesworth said the proposed language is available for the public to review at city hall.

* city commissioners held off on giving Moran Iron Works owner Tom Moran permission to build an entrance gate over a city street leading to a future sculpture park. Moran said the 22-foot-high gate would span Badder Street near Industrial Arts Institute, which he also owns. MIW Public Relations Director Marilyn Kapp Moran said the gate will bear the name of a business in town, and while the name isn’t public yet the business has agreed to allow its name to be used. Hefele said he wasn’t sure if the street had been vacated, and commissioners agreed to look into any potential legal issues.

* commissioners approved a letter of support for Swan Bay Energy as it seeks a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The company wants to develop a wind farm near Rogers City in Pulawski Township, Hefele said.

* commissioners want more input on whether to remove some stop signs, one on Fairview Street and two at the intersection of Oak and Shaw streets, leaving stop signs on Shaw. Hefele said plow trucks have a hard time stopping at the intersection when driving downhill, although Vogler said wear and tear on plow trucks should be the last reason the city would consider removing a stop sign. City Commissioner Chuck Abshagen said most people ignore the stop sign in question on Fairview, and he’d like to see some signage notifying people of the speed limit or warning them about children playing by the street. Hefele said he’d raise the issue again at the May 18 meeting and put an ad in the local newspaper seeking input.

Jordan Travis can be reached via email at jtravis@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688. Follow Jordan on Twitter @jt_alpenanews.

Read his blog, A Snowball’s Chance, at www.thealpenanews.com.