By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer

ASHWAUBENON – The number of pigeons able to be kept in the village with a permit is limited to 12 under an ordinance amendment approved Sept. 22 by the Ashwaubenon village board.

The amendment also limits the number of permits to keep pigeons in Ashwaubenon to four.

Village Attorney Tony Wachewicz said the cap on the number of pigeons was proposed upon discovering Ashwaubenon had no limits when the public safety department recently received a complaint.

“After performing some research with respect to a cap number for surrounding municipalities, 12 or a dozen seemed to be the consistent number amongst other areas,” he said.

Wachewicz said the amended ordinance will also grandfather any current permits keeping more than a dozen pigeons until those permits are terminated.

The village code states pigeons must be keep in an approved pen or coop “so as to be easily cleaned and kept in good repair.”

The code on obtaining a permit for pigeons includes paying an annual fee with the permit expiring Dec. 31 of each year.

Unclaimed property

In other action, the board approved changing the village code regarding abandoned or unclaimed property.

Wachewicz said the change will allow the public safety department methods to dispose of property other than at a public auction.

“What this ordinance will allow public safety to do, or the village in general, is to dispose of property (it) comes in possession of, by either donation, diversion, destruction or a public auction,” he said.

Trustee Gary Paul said the village will incur an expense when it runs out of room and has to store items on rented property.

“I think it’s a good way for us to go and get rid of this stuff after 90 days, if nobody comes around in that period of time (and) they don’t want it anymore,” he said.

Public Safety Director Brian Uhl said the code change will provide the department other ways to dispose of the property it comes in contact with, especially abandoned property.

“We just want to make sure we’re complying with state statutes,” he said.

Social host

The board also revised the village’s social host ordinance to comply with a state appeals court ruling related to underage alcohol consumption.

Wachewicz said the appeals court found a social host ordinance in Fond du Lac County, which was essentially the same as the one in Ashwaubenon, was improper and contrary to state law concerning alcohol licensing.

He said the court’s decision requires actual knowledge by an adult or failure to prevent the consumption of alcohol by an underage person.

Wachewicz said the ordinance also revises the penalty section to be consistent with state law.