A group of local residents who had been selling livestock outside of the Ocala Rural King against city ordinance have found a new home in Marion County just a few weeks after they were prohibited from sales at their former site.
This past weekend, many of the vendors who previously sold their livestock outside of the Rural King located at 2999 NW 10th Street in Ocala transitioned to the Dunnellon Feed Farm Swap.
The move comes just a week after city officials revealed that rumors of a goat possibly running onto the roadway were what led to the original code enforcement complaint.
Ocala-News.com first reported the end of livestock sales outside of Ocala Rural King in late August.
The outdoor sales violated section 122-1205 of the city code of ordinances regarding outdoor sales criteria for certain uses in B-4, B-5, and M-1 districts.
During a discussion at last week’s Ocala City Council meeting, City Manager Peter Lee emphasized the potential risk of an animal getting loose at the scene, citing a previous incident that he suggested may have been anecdotal.
“I think more in this case, that a goat would run in the road and get hit by a car and killed,” said Lee. “And that may have happened, and may not have, anecdotally. That’s what I’ve heard.”
The Dunnellon Feed Farm Swap operates at 4860 S U.S. Hwy 41 in Dunnellon every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Anyone looking to join may do so for a $5 donation to setup. The location, Dunnellon Feed & Farm Supply, features ample free parking at its site.
According to organizers, the combined swaps will essentially double the number of vendors at each event.
