Democracy at work in Adams Township
If you attend the meetings where your local lawmakers are making decisions, your voice truly can make a difference.
On Monday night, the Adams Township board unanimously voted down a proposed ordinance intended to prevent farm animals from “becoming a public nuisance.”
Following the meeting, Eagle staff writer William Pitts wrote to his editor Monday, saying it would take some time to put together the “whopper” of a story he had on the meeting.
You don’t often hear the term “whopper” to describe such a meeting, but you also don’t often hear about a legislative body having a change of heart in real time.
Here’s how that plays.
On Monday, before the board voted, several constituents voiced their concerns.
Many of the residents who spoke 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.”
Twenty-nine people were scheduled to speak ahead of the vote. Several decided not to speak, but those who did were blunt about their concerns.
“This law will do nothing to fix the root cause of the problem,” said part-time farmer Ralph 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.”
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.”
Who, what, where, when, why and how indeed.
The people elected to represent the public in Adams Township heard the concerns, considered them in real time, and voted the way their constituents made clear they thought was best for the community.
Is there a need for some sort of ordinance to prevent farm animals from “becoming a public nuisance?” Maybe. But the people of Adams Township made clear the ordinance that was presented Monday night was not the one the people of the township want. And their elected leaders listened.
This is exactly how democracy works.
Board chairman Russell Ford put it this way Monday evening: “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.”
— RJ
