The Milton Equestrian Committee will meet Wednesday evening to discuss large lots as well as the City’s recent steps to help protect horses living on many of these properties from fireworks.

The June 18 meeting should begin at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers (2006 Heritage Walk). Anyone can attend in-person or watch the meeting online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEUnA3rH2bw.

Made up on seven individuals appointed by Milton’s Mayor and Councilmembers, the Milton Equestrian Committee considers matters of importance to the local equestrian community. Its members share their perspectives, insights, and opinions with City staff and City leaders. For more on this committee, visit https://www.miltonga.gov/government/boards-committees/equestrian-committee.

The first item on Wednesday’s agenda relates to the City’s ongoing effort to potentially add more incentives to encourage people to retain their large (defined generally as at least 3 acres) parcels rather than selling and/or splitting them into smaller lots. Big picture, this initiative aims to preserve picturesque rural and pastoral settings that help make Milton unique. 

The City’s Community Development Department is spearheading this project, which you can learn more about at www.miltonga.gov/LargeLots. This has included regular updates, and solicitation of feedback from, the Milton Equestrian Committee as will happen on Wednesday. 

The only other item on Wednesday’s agenda is a “Discussion on 4^th of July Fireworks.” Fireworks have long been a focal point of local equestrians given how their loud, sudden, explosive booms can startle horses and, in so doing, risk the health of those animals, nearby humans, as well as property. The sparks from such fiery blasts can also increase the prospect of fires at barns that often contain wood, straw, and other flammable materials.

With that in mind, several months ago Equestrian Committee Chair Tony Rich joined Mayor Peyton Jamison and Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones of Milton to discuss how to protect horses and the barns they call home from fireworks. That led to House Bill 614, which Jones guided through the Georgia General Assembly and Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law on May 14. It gives local governments the authority “to prohibit the use or ignition of consumer fireworks in proximity to certain facilities housing equines.”

Thanks to this law, Milton’s City Council voted Monday night to prohibit anyone from setting off consumer fireworks less than 200 yards from the border of a property with equines (which includes horses, donkeys, ponies, and mules). For more details, check out https://www.miltonga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3033/1351. 

After Wednesday, the Milton Equestrian Committee is next scheduled to convene on July 16.