HAYDEN J EMRAH
WZBD.com
At their July meeting, the town of Monroe passed three new ordinances that affect any resident within the town’s limits. These new regulations, presented by Town Attorney Clayton Lengrich and all passed in a 3-0 vote, included the following:
- Ord. 2024-9: ordinance to rescind Ord. 2024-2 in establishing standards and requirements for the users of the Monroe water service. This new town ordinance concerns establishing standard connection and service fees, as well as making sure that access to water utilities such as fire hydrants, main, and service valves be clear of trees or shrubs within 10 ft, and any other vegetation within 5 ft. It also makes clear that it is permitted to put rock and mulch around these utilities, so long as they don’t cover access. Other stipulations include that small structures such as sheds not be closer than 3 ft as well.
- Ord. 2024-10: ordinance to regulate farm animals within the town of Monroe. This prohibits the ownership of farm animals within the town with the exception of up to 6 chicken, but no roosters. It also prevents farm animals from being allowed to perform their natural bodily functions within town limits, with the exception of horses used as a mode of transportation. This ordinance was initially set to be established at the June meeting, however council members wanted to ensure that horses were not affected by the new regulations, and so the clause was added before being voted passed at the July meeting.
- Ord. 2024-11: an ordinance prohibiting the use of engine brakes and jacob brakes (i.e. J brakes). These allow for the placement of signs on either side of Monroe’s town limits on Indiana State Road 124. J brakes are notorious for being loud, and limiting their use within a town is common practice for many similarly-sized communities across the Midwest. Signs to limit their use were actually finalized in DEcember of 2023, but required an ordinance to be passed so that the signs could be tied to a regulation and be enforced. Violations of this new ordinance could result in fines of up to $225 for each occurrence, and will be enforced by the town marshal or Adams County Sheriff’s Department.
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