Permits for pigs a pet predicament in Aurora

By: 
Steve Chapman

The Aurora City Council spent some time during their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12 discussing whether the city should grant residents who own two pigs permits to keep the animals at their home.
According to unofficial minutes, Leonard Lopez, who along with Kiara Lopez owns two Julianna pigs, spoke to the council during the public-comments portion of the meeting and requested that they be allowed to keep the animals at their residence. He told the council that when they moved into the city, they were under the impression the house they bought was zoned for agriculture and they would be allowed to keep the pigs, only to be told later by animal control that they couldn’t have them there.
Later in the meeting, City Manager Jon Holmes, quoting from the city ordinances, stated a permit could only be issued if approved by the city council. He also stated the ordinances only consider dogs and cats as domesticated animals, but also that times have changed and some pigs are also considered domesticated animals. He asked if perhaps the city ordinance should be updated to include breeds of pigs which are considered to be domesticated animals. Councilman Stephen Wiles said he had no problem approving a permit for the pigs, but Chairman Pro-Tem Doyle Ferguson asked if approving the permit would open the door for other animals to be kept as pets within the city.
Holmes cautioned the council against moving forward with approving a permit at that time as it might allow other residents to request permits for different animals while the code only allows for dogs and cats. He asked the council to either table the request or make a motion to approve the request; the council voted to table the request.
Ed Witte also addressed the council during the public-comments portion of the meeting. He asked if there was a parking ordinance in the city because on Washington Street, he said, people park vehicles in all different directions, and the street isn’t well lit. He said he almost hit a truck which was parked at an angle. Witte asked if the city has a parking ordinance that it be enforced, and if it didn’t, that the city look into making one. Holmes and Richard Witthuhn, chief of police, said they would look into the ordinance.
Witte also asked about holding a monthly art event in Aurora where artists could display their work, a “car cruise-in” could be held, and food vendors could sell food. Trent White, Planning and Zoning director, said a special events permit would need to be requested by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
During a discussion about purchasing used replacement vehicles, Holmes told the council that the cost of new patrol cars has gone up by $10,000 due to the rising cost of steel as a result of tariffs, but said the city might be able to get patrol cars cheaper by utilizing State Surplus. He said he would have to act quickly, or the city would lose out on the chance to get the cheaper patrol cars and requested the authority to make the purchases without coming to the council for approval. The council voted to authorize Holmes to make the purchase.
The council also passed an ordinance allowing the Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday to apply to local sales tax in Aurora between April 19 and April 25, 2019.
 

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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