There will be no live sheep, goats or other farm animals at this year’s Real Life Church Nativity Scene event in Niles.

The Niles City Council voted 5 to 2 against a request by the Niles church to use city property for the temporary housing of animals for a live nativity scene that would have been located at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA on Dec. 22.

David Mann and Scott Clark were the only councilmembers to vote in favor of the request.

Councilmembers Georgia Boggs and Tim Skalla expressed concerns over potential liability issues.

Skalla said Real Life Church did not provide requested insurance information to the council by the deadline. He also remarked on the church’s request to put a star on top of a flagpole on the property, saying the pole was too high to be reached by a bucket truck.

The city’s Department of Public Works, Fire Chief Larry Lamb and City Administrator Rick Huff all recommended the board deny the request.

The church requested to use the grass in the area in back of the city property at 1105 N. Front St. (Kawneer Property), while placing luminaries along Front Street at River Park.