Washington City employees will see slightly larger paychecks after the first of the year. Monday evening, the City Council unanimously approved a 3% increase across the board. Payroll action was the only business topics on the Council’s agenda, however, the Council also found that an ordinance regarding keeping livestock inside city limits did not cover the original intent.
Austin and Samantha Gray requested a variance to allow keeping horses on less than the required one acre. The intent of the ordinance was to require one acre of pasture per animal, but the ordinance only sets a flat minimum of one acre to keep livestock. The Council members all agreed that the way the ordinance currently reads, the Grays could keep their four horses on the land at 102 Field Street. Council members asked City Attorney Tim Dant to draw up an ordinance to correct the current language.