Ortonville- Dog excrement and bright lights are inspiring a second look at two village ordinances.
At the village council meeting May 29, village resident Laura Douglas expressed her displeasure over the bright orange spotlight her neighbor has installed and which shines into her home.
‘It shines into my bedroom so bright you can read the newspaper,? she said. ‘I don’t want the light, and I shouldn’t have to have that light.?
Douglas noted she has spoken to the neighbor, who has told her in unfriendly terms to put down her shade.
Another citizen, who lives in the Pinestead development, complained about dog poop in her yard. She is unsure of who owns the offending dog or dogs, but is interested in seeing a new pooper scooper law and higher fines.
Village Manager Ed Coy said village ordinance number 10 prohibits the running at large of dogs, and it will possibly be changed over the next couple of weeks to address the problem more specifically, noting that residents need to take responsibility for their pets.
There is currently no ordinance that refers to lights, but Coy said ordinance number 11, which addresses public nuisances, will probably be amended to include the light issue. In the ordinance, public nuisances are defined as ‘those things, acts, or uses of property which annoy, injure, or endanger the safety, health, comfort, or repose of the public…?
‘We will have to use something objective and empirical in the ordinances to deal with the light issue,? said Coy. ‘We can regulate… the direction of light and the bulb power… If people have lights bothering someone else, they should address that.?
Coy plans to research what other municipalities are doing about similar issues and hopes to bring amended ordinances before the council at the June 25 meeting.