Tuesday’s City Council was about more than the civil service employee manual. Among other items approved Tuesday:
- An ordinance to amend the city’s official map and comprehensive plan to reflect the vacation of 11th Avenue for the Walmart development;
- The hiring of two new police officers, to replace two officers who left the force earlier this year;
- An ordinance — an offshoot to the Todd Kester case — that would allow the city to fine sex offenders from between $100 to $1,000 per day for living in a prohibited area of the city;
- Changes to our rabies control and exotic pet ordinances that would, among other things, require rabies shots for ferrets and a limit of two ferrets in a household. It also more clearly states that the city does not allow fowl or chickens to be kept in the city.
- And changes to our composting ordinance, more clearly stating what is allowed and not allowed in a compost pile.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Chickens – OK, sans roosters – can be an important element in a sustainable home. It really shouldn’t put too much pressure on officials to allow this backyard hobby and protein source. I completely disagree with this decision, and would hope that those who remember the depression followed by WWII and the victory gardens therein, will find the sensibility to see the value in families being able to house a small number of chickens during what could ostensibly be called a reliving of those earlier hunger years. The fear of cockfighting, which I am guessing is behind the regulations, must not overrule the benefits inherent in young people, for instance, taking responsibility for the care of these food-bearing companions.
Why did the two officers leave the SMPD?
Monica: I think they retired.
I believe three officers left the SMPD. Two went to another local police department and one retired.
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