Ten Sleep examines in-town archery and chicken laws

TEN SLEEP – Jake Holiday waited patiently for his turn to address the Ten Sleep Town Council Tuesday evening, as the governing body heard reports from the town departments and reviewed the monthly bills. The Ten Sleep fourth-grade student sat upright and attentive, next to his mother and grandmother, until Mayor Jack Haggerty (Holiday’s grandfather) finally invited him to take the floor.

Standing before the council, Holiday handed out a prepared proposal and photos before addressing the room. “I am here tonight because I would like to raise chickens,” stated Holiday. “I would like to formally request a variance to the ordinance prohibiting chickens in town, and I have a petition to present to the council.”

Currently, Ten Sleep Ordinance 4-2-5, titled “Harboring of Prohibited Animals,” states that “it shall be unlawful for any person…to keep or harbor within the town any horses, cattle, mules, asses, sheep, swine, goats, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, snakes, lizards or other animals [excluding cats and dogs] or fowl of any kind…”

After hearing from Holiday, the council and audience in attendance discussed the possibility of amending the current ordinance, with many of the opinion that chicken ownership in town had advantages, while roosters weren’t welcomed by anyone.

Joining the meeting by phone, Town Attorney Sandra Kitchen advised that the council could only grant variances to building permits and codes, and that ordinances would have to either be enforced as written or overturned or amended. Mayor Haggerty then explained to Holiday that no change could be decided without review and or amendment, and that the young man should return in a month and reintroduce his proposal, after the council had time to discuss the matter in a formal work session.

After thanking the council, Holiday returned to his seat in the audience. Chuck Holmes, newly elected councilman and awaiting his swearing-in-ceremony at the same meeting, turned to Holiday and said, “That was right on, man.” Holmes remarked to the council that he had been approached about the subject of town chickens by several residents in the past, and he would support revising the ordinance.

Attorney Kitchens remarked from the phone that many communities have adopted similar ordinances allowing chickens in town, in limited numbers, including Powell in 2014, Cheyenne in April of this year, and Greybull, who are voting on the change on Monday. Under the Powell law, residents are limited to four chickens, no roosters, and a $5-per-bird license.

The more lethal topic of misguided arrows was discussed at some length at the meeting, with Mayor Haggerty requesting clarification of the town’s ability to enforce when an archer shoots an arrow onto someone else’s property, or if the town could ban in-town target archery altogether.

“We’ve been having some complaints about this,” noted Councilman Ernie Beckley, “and it could be only a matter of time before somebody gets hurt.”

According to an anonymous resident, as reported by the mayor, neighboring arrows had entered their property numerous times, and they feared for their safety and the safety of their property.

Kitchen reminded the council that although the town has a firearms ordinance that forbids the discharge of “pistols, rifles, fowling weapons and cannons” in town limits, the town currently has no ordinance restricting bows and arrows. Further, Kitchen advised that losing control of an arrow is a civil matter, and the town had no jurisdiction to intervene. Kitchen advised that the town outlaw bows, similar to the firearms ordinance, but not to interfere or offer advice in civil matters between neighbors.

The council made no further comment on the subject, other than the hope that no one is injured due to irresponsible archery.

As a last point of business, the council voted to appoint Lori Hughes another term as clerk and treasurer, Ernie Beckley as Mayor Pro Tem, and swore into office councilmen Chuck Holmes, Constance Sweeney, and Mayor Jack Haggerty, all elected on May 3. Councilman Don Decker, unable to attend the meeting, was sworn-in at the monthly work session at 12:30 p.m.

Outgoing Councilman Dennis Sheperd was thanked for his service by the council, and resigned his seat to the applause of all in attendance. “I thought I was going to retire and not work,” said Sheperd. “But this [being on the council] was work. I’ll be glad to just watch from now on.”