Controversial Adams Township animal ordinance voted down
ADAMS TWP — In front of a packed house of concerned farmers and citizens, a controversial proposed ordinance intended to prevent farm animals from “becoming a public nuisance” was unanimously voted down by the five-member board of supervisors at their meeting on Monday night, Dec. 11.
The vote came after a half-hour of impassioned public comment from township residents — and some from outside the township — who were concerned that the ordinance, as written, would infringe on their rights as farmers.
The proposed ordinance — No. 2023-182 — first went before the residents of Adams Township at the supervisors meeting on Nov. 27, and was written to address concerns about cows and other large animals roaming loose and creating problems for the wider community.
“Every person shall be guilty of permitting an animal to become a nuisance when he or she allows excessive noise; running at large; attacking pedestrians, chasing vehicles or bicycles; attacking other domestic animals; trespassing upon public or private property; allowing the excessive accumulation of animal feces,” according to section two of the proposed ordinance.
Ultimately, after complaints from residents at the November meeting, the ordinance was tabled and brought over to Monday night’s meeting. The anxiety over the ordinance did not subside over the two weeks between meetings, however.
Twenty-nine residents signed up to speak during the “public comment” phase of Monday night’s meeting, although some opted out. Toward the end of the meeting, board chairman Russell Ford requested that later speakers keep their comments to one minute instead of the usual three minutes.
Many of the residents who spoke on Monday night said the proposed ordinance came about because of one elderly farmer who had difficulty keeping his farm and his animals under control.
“He was having personal struggles handling and maintaining his livestock, specifically cows,” said Colin Zedreck, co-owner of the Berkley Creek Pet Retreat. “People voiced their concerns and did not want additional legislation passed that will impact everyone just because one person is having a personal struggle.”
One of those was part-time farmer Ralph Crouthamel, who expressed concern that the ordinance, if passed, would lead to more problems for every other farmer in the township.
“This law will do nothing to fix the root cause of the problem,” Crouthamel said. “Instead, I fear this law could be used to pile on charges, fines and legal expenses for each day and offense on this farmer, haul the farmer in front of a magistrate and then place liens on the farmer's land if he fails to show or pay. I don't think this is how the residents of Adams want our farmers treated.”
Ford denied that the elderly farmer was the sole reason for the writing of the proposed ordinance, saying local police have responded to 30 nuisance animal complaints this year alone.
“The 30 times that we were dealing with our police officers chasing cows … they were not serving our community in a public safety manner,” Ford said. “We weren't in your community taking care of public safety.”
Jay Henderson said he was concerned the text of the proposed ordinance was vague and did not sufficiently clarify what an offense was.
“What is ‘excessive noise’? Who defines it? How long?” Henderson asked the board. “That’s pretty hard to do.”
During the final vote — which took place before cheers, applause and sighs of relief from the crowd — Ford admitted the comments from the public made him see the situation in a different light.
“I’m going to be honest with you; I'm not sure that I've realized or even expected some of the comments and some of the realizations … the passion that each of you had on this subject,” Ford said. “So after understanding your passion and your comments, my vote is no.”
The motion to vote down the proposed ordinance was the final motion voted on by longtime Adams Township supervisor and business owner Edward Vogel, who is stepping down from the board at the end of the year after 41 years.
At the start of the meeting, Ford announced the old schoolhouse in Adams Township Community Park would be rededicated in Vogel’s honor, renamed the “Edward L. Vogel Sr. Schoolhouse.”
