August 15, 2024 |
Photo – HEM High School – Courtesy google maps
The Hanna town council will not allow the high school to house students’ 4H livestock at this time.
During Tuesday night’s Hanna town council meeting, Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow High School Principal Eli Hobbs told the governing body that he is attempting to offer more real-world training for students. To meet that goal, Hobbs said he received a grant through the school district to construct a greenhouse, a sawmill, and a livestock barn.
Hobbs said the school had a livestock barn in the past. However, Hobbs said he was unable to find an agreement between the school and the town that allowed livestock to be kept on school grounds. The principal admitted that an agreement may not have existed.
Hobbs said he wanted to address the council before building a new barn.
The school principal said raising and selling livestock through 4A and FFA greatly benefits students. However, not every student has access to the land necessary to raise animals.
Hobbs said the barn will allow 10 students to house their 4H and FFA livestock on school grounds.
Councilman Sam Sikes asked Hobbs if the school owned property outside of town. Hobbs responded that the barn will be built within the town limits. Councilman Sikes said Hanna ordinance forbids the keeping of livestock in town. Sikes said the governing body is unable to make an exception for the school.
Mayor Jayson Nordquist said keeping livestock at the school will violate the town’s zoning ordinance. Without proper fencing, no farm animals may be housed on school grounds.
Mayor Nordquist said the council could change the rules to allow livestock at the school. However, the mayor said the town lacks the ability to enforce its existing animal ordinances.
Most of the high school property is within the Hanna town limits. However, a small section is part of the unincorporated county. Hobbs asked if the animals could be kept on that section of property. Mayor Nordquist said yes. The principal admitted that having the animals so far from the school building will present logistical problems.
Mayor Nordquist asked Hobbs if he considered that the students may not properly take care of the animals. The mayor said by keeping livestock, school staff will be responsible.
In the end, the Hanna town council informed Hobbs that they were not willing to amend the ordinances or offer a variance to allow the school to house livestock. The matter was tabled until different arrangements can be made.
