September 12, 2024 |
Photo – A generic livestock barn – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Hanna town council is working on rewriting the town’s regulations to allow students to keep livestock at the high school.
Last month, Bigfoot99 reported that Hanna Elk Mountain Medicine Bow High School Principal Eli Hobbs requested a special use permit to construct a pole barn on school grounds. The structure would house students’ 4H and FFA livestock. Principal Hobbs said the barn will allow students without access to ranch land to participate in the agriculture programs.
The governing body informed Principal Hobbs that current ordinances do not allow any type of livestock to be kept within town limits. The council said they were not willing to amend the ordinances or offer a variance to allow the school to house livestock. The matter was tabled until an alternative solution could be found.
The Hanna town council appears to have changed their minds. During a special meeting on August 29th, the governing body discussed potentially rewriting the livestock ordinance, allowing farm animals to be housed at the high school.
Mayor Jayson Nordquist said other municipalities have exceptions in their ordinances to allow keeping livestock for educational purposes. Clerk Vivian Gonzales said Town Attorney Patrick Brady has drafted an ordinance amendment to be introduced during the next Hanna town council meeting.
Councilman David Felix asked if the ordinance amendment will only apply to the high school. Unless specifically stated, Councilman Felix said Hanna residents may believe they are also exempt from the animal regulations. Clerk Gonzales said the amendment will clearly state that it applies only to the school. Mayor Nordquist said in-town residents will continue to be prohibited from housing livestock.
Mayor Nordquist asked for a motion to continue the process of amending the town’s livestock ordinance. By calling for a vote, the mayor said the town is showing its commitment to local 4H and FFA students.
The Hanna town council voted to move forward with the ordinance amendment to allow livestock for educational purposes and permit the construction of a barn at the HEM High School to house the animals.
All changes to municipal regulations must be read and approved at three separate public meetings. The proposed livestock ordinance amendment was brought up for the first reading during Tuesday’s Hanna town council meeting. Mayor Nordquist made it clear that the ordinance changes only apply to the HEM school.
Clerk Gonzales pointed out that the ordinance amendment does not expressly state that the changes apply only to the high school. The town clerk said under the current wording, all educational facilities, including the Hanna Elementary School, will be permitted to keep livestock on their properties.
The council agreed to alter the amendment to specifically name the HEM High School as the sole beneficiary of the changes.
Councilman David Felix said the proposed ordinance amendment limits the school to a maximum of two animals. Mayor Nordquist asked Principal Hobbs how many livestock animals he intended to keep each year. The school principal said he envisions having a maximum of ten FFA and 4H animals housed in the school’s barn at one time.
Principal Hobbs said the draft ordinance is written to only allow the school to house one species of livestock per school year. While not ideal, Hobbs said he will agree with the restriction if it makes the amendment process easier on the town. Mayor Nordquist said he does not agree with limiting the school to a single livestock species and asked to remove that section of the ordinance.
The Hanna town council unanimously voted to approve the livestock ordinance amendment with the agreed upon changes on the first reading. The alterations will be included when the ordinance is read for the second time at a future meeting.
