Landis board hears concerns about potholes, chickens, mowing

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 5, 2018

LANDIS — A busy public-comment period at Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting surfaced concerns about unkempt chickens, unfilled potholes and unmowed lawns.

Tracey and Ralph Lacks each asked the board about a different concern.

Tracey asked to see a copy of the updated animal ordinance, which had been discussed earlier in the meeting.

At that earlier point, Planning and Development Administrator Brandon Linn said the current ordinance — which the board passed in March — drew resident complaints because some thought it is “inhumane” to require chickens be kept in coops at all times.

Linn said he and the town manager spoke with the director of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture about it.

“And he also felt that it was not appropriate to leave the chickens in the coops at all times,” Linn said.

The board decided to hold a public hearing at its July 9 meeting to receive feedback on the change.

Tracey Lacks said after the meeting that she and her husband have had problems with their neighbors’ chickens but she did not specify how.

During his comment period, Ralph Lacks asked the board about potholes in his street, Lawing Drive.

“I’ve complained, and we always get some of it fixed and then it’s like they dropped off,” he said. “And we are in the city limits.”

Public Works Director Ron Miller said he had already spoken with Ralph Lacks about his concerns and said the road is not town-maintained.

“I’m advising you that from where it turns the corner, beyond that it is a private drive and it’s not town-maintained,” Miller said.

Ralph Lacks asked why the potholes had been filled before.

Miller said he couldn’t answer because it happened before he was public works director.

Mayor Mike Mahaley said he had not heard about this situation.

“But what I will promise you is, I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I will find out why we’re not doing it,” Mahaley said.

Nadine Cherry asked about a number of things, including whether the town-contracted mower is still working.

Town Manager Reed Linn said the mower’s contract runs through June 30 and that he or she had mowed in town earlier that day.

The board’s next meeting will be its public hearing on the 2018-19 fiscal year budget, which will be held at 7 p.m. June 25 at Town Hall, 312 S. Main St.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.