TUESDAY, November 3, 2026|
Photo – Hanna Town Hall – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Hanna officials have approved a resident’s request to use goats to eat overgrown vegetation on her property.
In an effort to improve the appearance of the town, Hanna officials are asking residents to remove trash from their yards and address tall grass and brush. As part of that initiative, the Hanna Marshal’s Office has begun issuing notices for nuisance ordinance violations involving trash accumulation and overgrown lawns. To help residents dispose of unwanted materials collected during the cleanup effort, members of the Town Council volunteered to staff the municipal transfer station on Sunday, October 25th, when the facility is normally closed.
During the September 8th Hanna Town Council meeting, resident Michelle Stenseng explained that her yard had become too overgrown to mow conventionally. Instead, she made an unusual request: permission to rent a small herd of goats to clear the brush and tall grass. Mayor Charlie George said he was in favor of the idea.
However, Mayor George expressed concern that the goats could escape from Stenseng’s yard and wander through the neighborhood. Councilman David Felix recommended drafting an agreement that would indemnify the town should the animals get loose.
Mayor Charlie George agreed, and the governing body voted to postpone a decision until the next meeting to allow time for the town to draft the agreement.
The matter was revisited again during the October 13th Hanna Town Council meeting. With a signed variance application in hand, the governing body unanimously voted to allow Michelle Stenseng to temporarily use goats to clear brush from her land.
Mayor Charlie George explained that other residents may make similar requests in the future, but that each one would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Town Council.
