Brighton Standard Blade 0127 by Colorado Community Media

STANDARD BLADE B R I G H T O N

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1903

75cI

VOLUME 118

Issue 5

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Brighton opts for mini-goat pilot program Council approves two-year pilot program with strict limits BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brighton residents will be able to keep goats on their property according to a Jan. 19 City Council decision, but the deal comes with some pretty strong restrictions. According to the new miniature goat pilot program, residents with 7,500 square foot lots of larger can keep two of the animals — not fewer and not more — and both must be females. And since it’s a two-year pilot program, they must be prepared to surrender the animals if the City Council decides to end it in 2023. “I don’t know how many hours we’ve spent, and I can’t even imagine how many hours our staff has spent, on this issue,” Councilor Clint Blackhurst said, moving to approve the program. “They’ve done a terrific job and I would like to make a motion to approve this ordinance so we can move this along. And I sincerely hope that we don’t have more discussion because we’ve beat this dead horse.” Councilors approved the program by an 8-1 vote, with Councilor Mary Ellen Pollack casting the lone no vote.

Councilors have been discussing the idea for more than a year. It came up in 2019 after Ward 2 resident Jennifer Council, who owned goats, received a notice that she had to get rid of them. After debating the idea for a year, the city polled residents and found most who responded favored allowing goats. According to the survey, which was made public in October, those opposed to the idea were concerned about enforcement, smell, goat owner education and noise, among others. “For those that came out in the beginning of this discussion, I just want to say thanks for bringing it up so we could handle it in this way,” Mayor Pro Tem Matt Johnston said. “I hope this suffices and does what they were asking for.” Permits, limits and rules

Only ten residents will be allowed in the program. The city will issue $100 permits that will be distributed through a lottery system, if more than ten residents are interested in keeping the animals. “That may not seem like a very big number, but ten permits equals 20 goats,” Shannon McDowell, long-range planner for the city said. “If city council decides at the end of that two-year time frame not to continue the pilot program, that’s 20 goats all of a sudden in our area that will need to find a new home.” Goats must be females and can

Brighton City Councilors gave their okay to a two-year pilot program allowing miniature goats, no taller than 24.5 inches at the highest part of their back.

only be kept in pairs, can be no taller than 24.5 inches at the tallest point of the back and must be disbudded. That’s a process that burns off the tissue that grows into horns. “Goats are companion animals and they like to have other goats around,” McDowell said. “I guess they are less noisy if they do.” Brighton goats must have up-todate rabies vaccines and on-site slaughtering or breeding operations

FILE PHOTO

are not allowed. Only single-family detached properties can keep goats, as long as the property owner agrees. The goat keepers must apply for a permit with the city, which will conduct two inspections — one of the pen and shelter for the animals and a second of the animals to meet the city’s requirements. McDowell said the $100 fee is SEE GOATS, P3

New program aims to help AdCo businesses BY STAFF REPORTS

Adams County rolled out a new program to help small businesses during the times of the pandemic. “Maintain & Sustain Adams - 5 Star Certification program lets businesses provide a safety plan and set more stringent safety measures to operate under state guidelines,” according to a statement released by Adams County on Jan. 22. “Business that get the certification can operate with indoor capacity limits that are one step lower on the COVID dial system than where the county’s

OBITUARIES LOCAL SPORTS LEGALS CLASSIFIEDS

reading sits, according to a statement. Those that remain in good standing won’t have to reapply. This is a pilot program open to the first 100 applicants. The county’s statement said with further Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment approvals, expected in February, the program will be opened to a greater number of businesses. The county applied to the CDPHE for full recognition of the program and is waiting on an official response, but businesses can apply through the online portal to jump-

start the process, according to the statement. “Many businesses have invested money and time into reopening safely during this pandemic, and we want to reward them for their efforts,” said commission chair Emma Pinter, according to the statement. “As long as a business maintains its certification, it can operate under a less restrictive level than would be possible otherwise.” “We’ve come up with an easy, centralized process to accept and approve applications and monitor business compliance,” said Adams

COVID-19

2 • Level Yellow and looser 2 restrictions could be weeks 6 away. 8 • Page  11

SPORTS

• State releases postseason plans for high school wrestlers • Page 

County Manager Raymond Gonzales in the statement. “So many businesses are eager to participate and this is a way they can safely start to get back to normal.” The application is free. Businesses must submit a safety plan and outbreak mitigation plan, required by CDPHE, with their applications. Applications are subject to an on-site inspection. Businesses must maintain their certification by adhering to safety protocols, and the certification may be revoked if businesses fall out of compliance.