SPRINGDALE -- Aldermen discussed Monday the possibility of allowing hoofed animals at more places in the city.
Aldermen tabled at Monday's City Council committee meeting an amendment to the city's code of ordinances about hoofed animals to the next committee meeting. The amendment would allow hoofed animals, such as goats and cows, to be allowed on properties in the city for circuses, fairs, research or educational institutions and veterinary clinics.
Committee action
Springdale aldermen forwarded the following items to City Council at Monday’s City Council committee meeting:
• Waiving competitive bidding for consulting services for a long-range plan for the Springdale Public Library.
• Willingness for the city to participate in the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission floodplain mapping project.
• Willingness for the city to use federal-aid Transportation Alternatives Program money to build the first phase of Dean’s Trail.
• Setting a public hearing date for Aug. 25 on a proposed ordinance to set sanitary sewer rates in the city.
• Repealing an ordinance setting water rates.
Source: Staff report
Hoofed animals are not now allowed on any property in the city that isn't zoned agricultural, according to meeting documents. Hoofed animals also cannot be kept on properties zoned agricultural in platted subdivisions.
The same exception as the one proposed already exists in the city for swine, said Ernest Cate, city attorney. Cate said the item was on Monday's agenda at the request of alderman Jim Reed.
Reed said he is a proponent of using animals in education. He said there will be a Montessori school in the downtown area, and that Montessori education teaches about animals. He also said he's spoken to Christine Silano, program director for the school, about the school's interest in having animals.
Silano said earlier this year Ozark Montessori Academy will open in August. A 2015-16 academic calender for the school on the Ozark Education Inc. website states Aug. 10 will be the first day of school.
Reed said he will try to have Silano at the next committee meeting, when the proposed amendment will be discussed again.
Allison Strange, principal at Harp Elementary School, said she likes the proposed amendment because it supports agricultural education. This type of education can teach students life lessons even if they don't want to be farmers. For example, animals can help students learn about responsibility, work ethic and discipline.
Harp had and gave away two pygmy goats within the past couple years, Strange said. She said she didn't know at the time it wasn't allowed by the city's code of ordinances.
Giving away the goats had nothing to do with the city's code of ordinances, Strange said. Instead, the goats needed a new home because they would climb and get out of their pen. Cold weather also became a concern because the school didn't have indoor shelter for them.
Strange explained there are other aspects involved in schools having hoofed animals, such as animal care and child safety. She said she would look into the option of getting pygmy goats at the school again if the city allowed it and she could find a way to provide proper shelter for them.
Alderwoman Kathy Jaycox said she is against the proposed amendment. She said it seems to defeat the purpose of development in less rural areas. She also said students should go to agricultural areas for this.
NW News on 08/04/2015