Silver Creek Township to draft stricter barking ordinance after residents' complaints

Chair Mike Helman and the Silver Creek Township Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 6 to have the chairman work with the township attorney to draft an amendment to the township’s dog ordinance limiting nighttime barking.

The action followed public comments from neighboring homeowners. A homeowner at 12946 County Rd 8 said the barking "was getting worse" and that dogs were barking "at all hours of the day," affecting the household’s quality of life. Another homeowner, at 12986 County Rd 8, said the dogs "are protecting their sheep and have erected fences to keep their dogs within their property" and believed the dogs were barking less.

Board members reviewed sample ordinances from Southside, Clearwater and Rockford Townships. Supervisors Ryan Nelson and Andy Christensen said they favored Clearwater Township’s approach, which prohibits dogs from barking between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Nelson moved, Christensen seconded a motion directing the chairman to work with the township attorney to draft an amendment with a proposed quiet period of either 9 or 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; the motion carried 4-0.

The board plans to address the proposed ordinance changes at its first meeting in February, unless the township attorney cannot present a draft by then; in that case the board will set a later meeting date for review and possible posting for public comment and a final vote.

The discussion shows the board balancing complaints about continuous barking and the needs of residents who keep animals for farming. No ordinance language was adopted on Jan. 6; the vote authorized only drafting and legal review.

Next step: the chairman and township attorney will prepare draft ordinance language for the board to consider in February.