Chickens and Cats discussed at City Council meeting

From getting stray cats out of town to bringing chickens into it, last Tuesday’s Malta City Council meeting discussed those animals and much more and on Monday night held a special meeting to decide what to do with the Municipal Pool and if the Malta Swim Team will be able to use it this summer (See page 1B for that story.)

A total of seven people were at the meeting last week to discuss either chickens and cats. As for chickens, the current law in the City of Malta (Ordinance No. 453, Section 6.23.010) states that it is unlawful for any person within the city limits to “raise fowl.” The council on Tuesday voted 3-1 to change the law and amend the ordinance. The City of Malta is looking at how other cities in Montana handle chickens in town and are considering allowing 10 permits for fowl at a time with a waiting list. The process of amending the ordinance includes running legal ads, announcing a public meeting, and then holding a public meeting. A total of two readings would have to be held where the public is allowed to comment. If approved by the Council, the new law would take 30 days to go into effect.

As for cats in the City of Malta, some citizens complained of cats running wild around town. At the first Malta City Council meeting in May, Malta Mayor John Demarais came up with a plan to catch the cats, neuter or spay them, and then relocate them to farms. That idea has since been scrapped. At last Tuesday night meetings, Malta resident Raelynn Robinson approached the Council about starting a new non-profit organization established to trap, neuter or spay, and perhaps identifying the cats to know if they are stray or not. Robinson is joined by Shannan Fried and Kate Cleveland in the project.

“I hope we can succeed and help the community and save the lives of these cats," Robinson told the PCN. “We’ve got a huge task in front of us and still a lot of work to do and details to hash out.”

The City of Malta is not currently trapping stray cats.

Mayor Demarais also said he has received a lot of complaints about junk cars and yards that are in disarray. Mayor Demarais said that cars will once again be removed and people with out-of-control yards will start to be ticketed.