By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Bronson apparently has always allowed homeowners to own and raise chickens on their property, and maybe other small farm animals if that’s what the owner wanted, but the tradition is about to be etched into law.

            Town council members this week made changes to a proposed amendment to the town’s nuisance ordinance that would allow one pig or other small animals to be raised on less than an acre of land.

            If the property owner has children raising small farm animals for the Suwannee River Fair, the town would make some type of exception to allow additional animals if it was for the purpose of an educational exhibit.

            Town Attorney Steven Warm, who was present for the meeting after months of attending by Zoom internet connection, said he would draft the appropriate language and bring it back to the board for discussion.

            The topic of raising farm animals in Bronson was brought to the council by Beaudet as a proposed amendment to the town’s nuisance ordinance for keeping animals.      

            Beaudet suggested an amendment to the nuisance ordinance that would prohibit livestock on lots less than an acre “under any circumstances,” but Councilman Jason Hunt immediately objected to the language.

            “We’re not going to be able to say no livestock,” Hunt said.

            Hunt said one woman in town already raises chickens on her property and the ordinance, as proposed by Town Manager Susan Beaudet, would require her to own at least an acre of land to keep the chickens, “which isn’t right.”

            “If anything, it should say no large livestock like horses and cattle, things like that, but chickens, goats, swine; small livestock animals don’t need an acre or more,” Hunt said.

            Deputy Clerk Wendy Maragh asked, “What about 4-H and FFA?

            “That’s another thing; if you have children who want to do hogs or possibly a feeder steer and they don’t have them as permanent livestock, there’s something else that has to be put in for that,” Hunt said.

            “I just want to be careful. I just want to make sure we are not being too restrictive,” he added.

            Hunt said he consulted with a county official and was told the county government requires one acre for a horse or a cow.

            “That would supersede ours, ”Warm said without explaining what he meant. He suggested using the term “hooved animals” in the ordinance.

            “That would do it if that’s what you want to do,” Warm said.

            Hunt said he still wants pigs, goats, and “things like that” allowed in Bronson.

            “A hog doesn’t need an acre of land to roam on,” he said.

            A reporter asked, “Do you think someone should be able to keep a pig on their property inside Bronson?”

            “Yes,” responded Hunt.

            “They do smell, and they’re hogs, not cats and dogs,” the reporter added.

            “I feel like you should be able to own a hog in the city of Bronson,” Hunt said.

            The amendment to the nuisance ordinance proposed by Beaudet added additional rules including, “Corrals, stalls, barns, or other animal enclosures shall be located at least 50 feet from any property line, residence or water well. Hunt didn’t object to the language.

            Beaudet’s amendment also said, “No animals shall be allowed to roam free beyond the property where they are kept and every effort shall at all times be made to ensure that animals maintained do not create noises loud and frequent enough to disturb the reasonable expectations of neighbors for the untrammeled enjoyment of their property.” There was also no objection to that language.

            Councilman Tyler Voorhees, who was volunteering his time at the Suwannee River Fair, reportedly considered missing Monday’s council meeting to continue his volunteer activities at the fair until he realized the amendment to the nuisance ordinance would come up for discussion and could impact the raising of farm animals in the city.

            The future rules and regulations in the amended nuisance ordinance weren’t entirely clear at the end of the discussion, but when Warm brings the ordinance back for discussion, the board members can continue to tweak the ordinance as deemed appropriate.

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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting March 21, 2022; Posted March 24, 2022