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The LaGrange City Council voted to amend the city’s unified development ordinance to allow for grazing-style yard maintenance. The change was sparked at the request of an area resident, Danny Simms, who in April proposed starting his own yard maintenance business with animals like sheep or goats as his staff. Sims explained the animals would perform lawn care maintenance through monitored, organic grazing on a client’s yard.

“It could be the right way to control [vegetation overgrowth] without herbicides and heavy equipment,” Sims said.

Councilmember Tom Gore was the only one to vote ‘no.’

“I expect there’s going to be a lot of noise complaints, and I think it will be short-lived in its complaint,” he said as his reasoning.

Councilmember Nathan Gaskin said the business had the potential to address vegetation issues within the city.

“I think the public will start seeing the benefit, especially when [the sheep] start chewing up all the kudzu [and shrubs] that’s around,” Gaskin said. “I don’t think there will be a problem.”

Councilmember Mark Mitchell commented, as previously discussed by the council as a whole, that the ordinance could be reviewed as complaints arise, and ultimately eliminated if complaints proved severe.

In other business at the meeting:

• Council accepted a $73,000 bid on surplused propery on Hudson Road property bid
• Council accepted accept $153,000 bid on surplused property on  Callaway Church Road.
• Council appointed Councilmember W.T. Edmonson as a voting delegate and Mark Mitchell as the alternate voting delegate to the 2022 GMA Annual Convention. The convention will take place in Savahanna on Sunday.