Sheep, goat grazing topic brings 17 LaCrosse residents to public forum

The public hearing in LaCrosse last week for the consideration of allowing sheep and goats in town for grazing purposes was attended by 17 residents. The issue came up last year when the town council allowed a resident to bring a sheep to town to graze his property, and the town council is now considering allowing the practice.

Mayor Randy Camp at the public meeting shared the results of a survey which had been at the LaCrosse Post Office and market regarding the ordinance. The survey garnered 59 respondents, with 39 stating they would be okay with their neighbor having sheep or goats grazing on his or her property and 20 indicating they would not be okay with it.

A town ordinance requires that all weeds, grass and other uncultivated vegetation be cut and disposed of at least once per month from April through September and also that any weeds, grass or vegetation not exceed 12 inches in height. The ordinance applies to all developed residential, business or commercial properties.

The forum last Thursday was meant to gather public input, and a decision about the sheep and goats could come at the next town council meeting in April.

“There was a lot of discussion going back and forth,” said Town Clerk/Treasurer Angela Broeckel.

Broeckel noted residents at the meeting discussed the use of chemicals to keep weeds under control and also noted a nearby town has an outfit that could bring in more than 50 goats with a portable fence and a handler who stays with the goats for a fee.

She said the council will be inviting the outfit to its next meeting to discuss its business and the length of time the goats would stay.

“They just want to see exactly what it is,” she said. “They just have more questions for them.”

The next town council meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at LaCrosse Town Hall.