Ashland aldermen adopt ordinance restricting chicken coops near municipal well

The Board of Aldermen of the City of Ashland, Missouri on Oct. 7 adopted Ordinance 1534, amending the city code governing placement of chicken coops near the municipal well.

Staff told the board the item had been discussed at length at the previous meeting and that the most recent edit—highlighted in the draft—responded to public comment suggesting additional setback from the property boundary. "We talked about this at length the last meeting," the staff member said, noting a proposed condition to require a 10-foot setback from property boundaries to keep coops away from the well and fences.

During discussion the staff member repeated a request for any further constituent input before finalizing the language. A motion to adopt the ordinance was moved, seconded and approved. The Chair called named votes and recorded affirmative votes from Oliver Lewis, Owen Bill, Owen Covert, Owen Bramekrant and Owen Dunwood; Owen Turner was recorded as voting no. The Chair announced, "Motion passed."

The ordinance text on file amends the city code concerning placement of chicken coops near the municipal well; the staff presentation identified the change as a targeted setback adjustment in response to earlier public comment. The board offered no further amendments on the floor and did not schedule additional hearings.

The ordinance is effective as adopted; the city clerk’s office has the adopted text and implementation details on file.