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Township directs draft of stricter dog-barking ordinance after County Rd. 8 complaints
Summary
After residents complained of persistent nighttime barking, the Silver Creek Township Board voted to have the chair and attorney draft an amendment that would limit dog barking during overnight hours; the board will review the proposed language at its first February meeting.
The Silver Creek Township Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 6 to have the board chair work with the township attorney to draft an amendment to the township dog ordinance after residents reported ongoing nighttime barking that they said harms quality of life.
During the public-comment portion, a homeowner at 12946 County Rd 8 told the board the barking “was getting worse” and disrupted daily life; a homeowner at 12986 County Rd 8 said their dogs protect sheep, have fences and that barking had lessened. Board members reviewed model ordinances from Southside, Clearwater and Rockford townships during the discussion.
Supervisor Ryan Nelson and Supervisor Andy Christensen said they favored the Clearwater Township approach that “No dogs [are] allowed to bark from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the Township,” and moved to direct the chair to work with the attorney on proposed language that would prohibit nuisance barking between either 9 or 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The motion, made by Nelson and seconded by Christensen, carried 4-0. Chair Mike Helman will confer with the township attorney and present a draft for the board to consider at its first meeting in February; if the attorney cannot prepare the draft by then, the board will set a later date.
The board did not adopt ordinance language at the meeting; the vote authorized only drafting and review. If the board approves a draft at a future meeting, it would then decide whether to post the amendment for public comment and schedule a final vote.
