Livestock ordinance advances

A new livestock ordinance is one step away from approval.

Portland City Council approved an ordinance on first reading Monday that would ban farm livestock in the city and set rules for owning chickens.

The council also heard from Fire Chief Mike Weitzel regarding plans to purchase a new truck, and members and the mayor were at odds again over the possibility of merging police dispatch with the county.

The livestock ordinance came up following a complaint from Portland resident Aaron Kuhn about being woken up early in the morning by a rooster that lives nearby. City attorney Wes Schemenaur presented the council with a draft ordinance late last year.

Council members Kent McClung, Michele Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden, Mike Aker, Ashley Hilfiker and Ron May approved the ordinance unanimously on first reading without comment.

The ordinance would ban farm livestock, including but not limited to horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats and fowl, from being kept within the city limits. It makes an exception for chickens under the following rules:

•No roosters

•A limit of five chickens on any residential lot

•Chickens must not cause a nuisance in the form of noise, odor or damage

•Owners must provide a coop and run that has 12 square feet of space per chicken

•Coops and runs must have a “sight fence or shrub screening” at least 4 feet high if they are visible from a neighboring lot and be at least 15 feet from the property line

The ordinance calls for a $100 fine for first violations and up to $500 for additional violations.

It would need to be approved on second reading at the council’s Jan. 19 meeting before going into effect.

Also Monday, May asked the mayor about the status of creating a committee to explore the possibility of merging the city’s police dispatch with Jay County dispatch. The council has discussed the issue multiple times since May brought up the topic in September, saying then that such a change would make sense to be handled in conjunction with a countywide project to upgrade radio equipment for emergency responders.

Portland Mayor Jeff Westlake responded, saying he feels the city’s board of works should be involved.

Hilfiker pushed back repeatedly on the issue of creating a committee. She said she feels the mayor is not coming to the issue with an open mind, at one point saying residents should be “upset that you don’t want to keep us safe.” She said she feels a centralized dispatch should be the top priority for 2026 and said she will bring it up at every meeting moving forward.

Golden said the issue is worth studying, noting that there could be significant cost savings. He said he would like to serve on the exploratory committee.

The council, following a presentation from Barry Ritter of public safety consulting firm Ritter Strategic Services, voted unanimously on Dec. 1 to move forward with a process to explore consolidating the dispatching of emergency responders.

Hilfiker expressed frustration that no action has been taken on a contract proposal from Ritter that was sent in mid-December. The mayor reiterated his stance that the city’s board of works, which meets Thursday, should be involved in the process. Hilfiker responded that the council controls finances and can choose not to fund police dispatch if it sees fit to do so.

The council also heard from Weitzel regarding plans to purchase a new tanker truck to replace the current equipment truck that has been in service since 2001. Quotes came in between $490,000 and $570,000 for a new vehicle. He noted that there is about a two-year lead time from the time of purchase to the delivery of the truck.

Weitzel said he planned to take the bids to the city’s board of works Thursday for their approval.

Council members expressed support for the purchase.

Weitzel also offered a reminder that United Way of Jay County fundraiser Splashin’ With a Passion – Peggy’s Plunge is scheduled for Feb. 7 in the pond north of Moser Engineering on county road 100 North.

He also congratulated Aker on his recent retirement after 53 years of service to the fire department.

In other business:

•Council re-elected McClung as president.

•Phillips noted that $97,556.58 was encumbered from 2025 to be spent in 2026.

•May brought up various topics:

   —Security cameras to monitor Jay County Solid Waste Management District recycling trailers. He asked about their status. They have been installed.

   —Police statistics. He said he and other council members asked about statistics regarding arrests and other police duties. Westlake said he would get them from the police department.

   —Electronic bikes. He expressed concern about speed, saying he would like to put an ordinance in place. He asked that the topic be placed on the next council agenda.

   —Vacant buildings. He asked about the status of an ordinance to improve the situation. Westlake noted that he had sent a copy of an ordinance from Coldwater, Ohio, to start discussion but that he did not hear back. Council members also discussed two blighted properties and the tax sale process for abandoned properties.

•Phillips asked council members to think about revenue replacement options as local government units prepare for the financial impact of 2025 Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 1. She offered a municipal wheel tax, increased trash rates and increased tap fees as options.

•Aker asked a question regarding donations to the police department and how that money was used. Westlake said he would get an answer.

•Phillips noted that the Blaine Pike paving and multi-use path project has been closed.

•Council members thanked city workers for their efforts during recent winter storms.