Urban Farm Ordinance Passes at Busy Jackson Council Meeting

JACKSON, MI – Residents of Jackson can now own miniature chickens, bees and pigs.

An ordinance approving responsible farm animal ownership was passed 6-1 by Jackson City Council at its meeting on Tuesday, September 29. The only no vote came from council member Laura Dwyer Schlecte, Ward 4, who said “farm animals” do not belong to the city limits.

Related: Jackson residents could own farm animals under ordinance that obtains initial clearance

The order came in response to residents interested in sourcing eggs and honey locally, and those wishing to keep pigs as pets. Additionally, the city code previously made beekeeping legal but unregulated in the city, so this ordinance helps regulate this activity, Mayor Derek Dobies said.

The first draft of the ordinance was rejected by the council in July due to problems of application and feasibility. He underwent several Dobies overhauls after speaking with community members and council members about the concerns they initially raised.

The Urban Farm Ordinance comes into effect 30 days after September 28.

Other items passed on Tuesday include:

  • An ordinance of the PILOT program which assists in the development of the Blackstone Apartments, which are offered on N. Blackstone Street between W. Pearl Street and W. Louis Glick Highway. The PILOT program reduces the developer’s fiscal responsibility in exchange for the city collecting 6% of the rents generated by the property.
  • The creation of a police control commission. The five-member council of city residents and business owners will advise the city police and fire department manager on community relations, policies, procedures, rules, training, recruitment, hiring and other applicable programs.
  • Acceptance of a federal grant of $ 1.4 million for the city’s fire department. Funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program and is intended to help the department recruit and retain additional staff.

In another action, a first reading of the Dobies order to set a wage rate of $ 15.68 per hour for city employees and any contractors, vendors or recipients of city funds has been postponed. at the October 26 board meeting to allow for further board review. .

An order requiring new developments to accommodate electric vehicles and provide charging stations was also postponed to the October 26 meeting for further consideration.

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General Materials closes its doors after nearly 70 years of activity

Jackson’s public schools extended mask term

Jackson County schools remain optional mask after Health Department guidelines

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