Pet pigs in Mitchell? City council to consider ordinance change allowing domestic hogs

Sam Fosness, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·3 min read

Oct. 2—MITCHELL — Mitchell residents could soon be allowed to house a domestic pig.

The Mitchell City Council will consider revising an ordinance on Monday that would allow one domestic hog per household. The council will take action on the ordinance change at the 6 p.m. meeting on Monday.

According to the new terms of the ordinance, the domestic pig could not weigh more than 150 pounds and the animal must be "bred for human companionship."

In addition, the ordinance states a domestic pig is subject to the conditions in the city's animal control nuisance ordinance. If the council approves the proposed change to the ordinance, it would allow each household dwelling to house one domestic pig no larger than 150 pounds.

In a memo to the council, City Attorney Justin Johnson noted other cities that allow domestic hogs have weight restrictions between 95 and 150 pounds.

A social media post recently surfaced showing a photo of what appeared to be a domestic pig roaming around a residential neighborhood near Lake Mitchell. It's unclear whether the photo led to considering an ordinance change.

The ordinance change to allow domestic pigs in Mitchell comes as an unofficial petition to allow chickens in city limits is circulating.

The following items will be considered as part of the consent agenda:

* Approve the minutes and reports from the following meetings: Sept. 19 City Council meeting; Spet. work session.

* Approve Planning and Zoning Commission, Corn Palace Board and Library Board reports.

* Approve purchase of pay loader from Sourcewell Contract.

* Approve Mitchell Police Department's application to apply for a Walmart Community grant.

* Approve the following raffle permits: MItchell Area Networking Association with the drawing to be held on Jan. 12; St. John Paul II School with the drawings to be held Jan. 20, 27, and Feb. 3, 10, 16 and 24; Mitchell Music Boosters with the drawing to be held on Dec. 8, 9, 10, and Mar. 18, and April 13, 14, 15.

* Declare property as surplus to be sold on Purple Wave Auction.

* Approve change order No. 3 to First Rate Excavating for East Central Drainage Utility and Street Improvement Phase II.

* Approve change order No. 2 to BX Civil Construction for Foster Street bridge rehab project.

* Approve change order to Menning Excavating for Ninth and Fifth Avenue projects.

* Set the date for the following hearing: Oct. 17, for proposed resolution needed for Quince Street.

* Set the date for the following bid opening: Nov. 2, for three-year cash rent hay land lease at parkland, the landfill and wastewater lagoons. The lease agreement would extend from 2023 to 2025.

* Approve Oct. 3 pay estimates

* Approve bills, payroll, salary adjustments, new employee hires, authorization of recurring payments and other expenses.

Other business

* Recite pledge of allegiance.

* Receive invocation from Salvation Army, roll call and hear citizens input.

* Approve consent agenda.

* Hold hearing and take action on the Corn Palace Shrine Club's special event liquor license located at Masonic Hall for Oct. 28 for Shrine Club Sportsman's Classic.

* Approve request by Mitchell Baseball for matching funds to be used for a press box and shade structure at Cadwell Baseball field.

* Approve amendment No. 1 to agreement with HDR for North wastewater treatment plant improvement project.

* Approve agreement for bridge improvement grant, also known as BIG grant, for the Canal Bridge.

* Approve National Opioid Settlement Memorandum agreement, an agreement that would provide the city with $7,756 from a national opioid settlement.

* Approve agreement for South Dakota Attorney General's drug enforcement joint powers program.

* Approve agreement for Palace transit's contract for service.

* Approve resolution No. R2022-60, a plat of lot 1, block 7 of westwood first addition, less the portion of west 15th Avenue lying within, a subdivision of the west half of section 16, township 103 north, range 60 west of the fifth prime meridian.

* Approve resolution No. R2022-64, a plat of tracts A through D in lot B in the northwest quarter of section 11, township 103 north, range 60 west of the fifth prime meridian, in Davison County.

* Consider entering into executive session, citing employee negotiations.