City in Kansas says it violated its own ordinance, will remove goats
Newton says it violated its own ordinance by using goats as weed control on city-owned industrial land.
“We tried this with the best intentions on a property in a non-residential setting,” City Manager Daniela Rivas said in a news release Friday. “We wanted to get the job done in a better way and save some taxpayer dollars. We’re so sorry we put the cart before the goat.”
The goats have been on the property since April 4 and were supposed to be there through the end of the month. They will be removed as soon as possible, the release says, adding the city may look in the future to allow animals grazing for property or vegetation management.
“Newton City Code prohibits the harboring of livestock such as goats,” the release says. “City maintenance staff thought of the goats as a short-term contracted service rather than long-term residents, but City legal staff have advised that is not an exception to code.”
The 190 yearling goats were supposed to “clear brush and saplings from the undeveloped property” on about 24 acres in the Kansas Logistics Park, which is on the east side of town.
“City staff have burned the area every couple of years but hoped the goats would be more effective in keeping down saplings and be a more eco-friendly and cost-effective option,” the release says.
The city planned to pay Restoration Grazing LLC $2,000 for the service. The city of Wichita used the same company to clear brush in Sim Park last year.
