By Marvin Pfeiffer
Staff Writer

Pork was the topic of the night at the Sept. 23 Grey Forest City Council meeting.

Although the agenda included items such as the adoption of a new tax rate for ad valorem takes for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, amendments to the 2008-2009 budget and discussion of an increase in the TMRS tax rate, the meeting was largely hogged by a discussion of pigs.

At the center of the matter was a request by Grey Forest residents Brian and Laura Stone for the raising of four pigs on their property for two projects, one an FFA project and the other 4-H.

The issue originally came up last year, when the Stones received a citation and paid a fine after the four hogs being raised by their two daughters were found in violation of a Grey Forest ordinance against livestock in the city. At that time, the judge saw the need to let the pigs stay on the property until the projects were over and let the Stones keep the pigs.

While it’s possible to request a permit approval for a animals in a 4-H project, the Stones were unaware that there was an amendment to the ordinance that included input from adjoining neighbors. Namely, if any neighbor within 150 feet of the property responded negatively or had objections to the project, it wouldn’t be allowed.

The Stones did their homework and were applying for the permit approval for this coming year.

“This year we tried to be very pro-active,” Laura Stone said. “We put up walls. We enclosed every part of the pen. We have created a drainage ditch for the water. The letters that were sent out to the neighbors, two came back negatively impacting the project, both of them with concerns of water run-off into the creek.”

Grey Forest resident Jack Nottingham had spoken at the beginning of the meeting on behalf of the 4-H Club and the Stone’s right to raise the pigs on their property.

“It’s an honor to belong to it,” Nottingham said in reference to the 4-H Club. “And it’s an honor to have students get that education and bring those titles to our city. I think it’s just a wonderful education to be around animals. And for the life of me I think we’re treading backwards.”

Another resident, Kent Niemann spoke later regarding his and other’s objections to pigs being raised in the city regardless of the project.

“It doesn’t make environmental sense putting that next to a creek,” Niemann said. He also referenced an immediate neighbor that had been afraid to speak up against the project “because they didn’t think there was anything that could be done.”

“Finally an ordinance was passed and now we do have an opportunity to live within that ordinance,” Niemann said.

The issue took up a full 40 minutes on the Tuesday night agenda.

Before the issue came up for a vote, Councilwoman Jennifer Nottingham moved to grant the Stone’s variance request contingent upon monthly health inspections by either the City or the Metropolitan Health District. That motion failed when it didn’t receive a second.

Councilman Don Nettle eventually moved that the request for variance be declined. It was seconded by Don Zook. The request was then turned down by a 3-1 vote with one abstention.

Nettle summed up the decision saying the city was “tremendously sympathetic to the activity, the cause and everything, but the pervading factor that led us to change this ordinance was our concern … that if others are not (in agreement with it), then that affects other people’s rights too.”

“That’s why we set it up to canvas and find out if there was anyone that objected,” Nettle said, “realizing that sometimes neighbors are very reluctant whenever they’re offended to take any action.”

In other matters discussed, Police Chief C.E. Rutledge issued a coyote warning to the city. “I would advise all the residents to make sure that you’re keeping any of your domestic pets inside your house, especially at night,” Rutledge said. “There’s an abundance of them out here and they’re going to be going after cats and all of your domestic animals, so make sure you get them secured.

Arborist Laurie Hawkins also reported that a suspected Oak Wilt sample from Cedar Crest the city sent to A&M came back as “bacterial leaf scorch.” She said that was “the best case scenario” and that the landowner is actively containing it.

Other new business discussed was the appointment of City Councilman Don Zook as mayor pro tem and the consideration and vote on the nomination of Bob Cage to fill GFU Board of Trustees Position No. 1

Ordinance No. 170 levying ad valorem taxes for use and support of the municipal government for the 2008-2009 fiscal year by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.093525 per $100 passed when a 2-2 tied vote was broken by Don Darst’s deciding vote on the matter.

Ordinance No. 171, a renewal of the agreement with the Grey Forest Volunteer Fire Department to provide fire protection and emergency services for the city with a 3 percent increase in cost that was already in the budget was passed unanimously.

The council also discussed and approved unanimously increases in various items in the 2007/2008 budget, primarily utilities costs and public works maintenance, fuel and material costs.

The final new business discussed before the meeting was adjourned was that of the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS), a state pension fund used by more than 820 Texas cities that is facing a $1.7 billion funding shortfall. The council voted to bring TMRS in and sit down and learn what they have to do and what the options are. An ordinance will have to be passed by December regarding the final decision on the subject.