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Council reopens chicken-ordinance debate; members press enforcement, identification and staffing questions
Summary
A previously tabled draft would allow up to four female chickens per residence while keeping roosters and other fowl banned; council members asked for a plan to enforce registrations and manure storage rules and suggested training a Public Works employee for code enforcement before a final vote.
Council resumed discussion of a previously tabled ordinance to allow chickens in town limits with conditions.
Councilwoman Fos introduced the item and proposed amending the draft ordinance to require identification (banding or tagging) linking each registered chicken to an owner. The current draft would allow up to four female chickens per residence, keep roosters and ducks banned, and impose owner-education provisions and a modest licensing fee (the draft listed $5 per year per chicken). Council members questioned enforcement capacity and the value of extensive owner-education requirements, noting county animal-control limitations.
Several members suggested the council defer final approval until staff can confirm enforcement approaches and possibly train a Public Works employee in code enforcement. The mayor said staff should consult the police chief and discuss whether current staffing can absorb additional code-enforcement responsibilities. No ordinance vote was taken; council asked staff to return with enforcement recommendations.
