(Spencer)– The Spencer City Council Monday evening approved the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would allow backyard chickens in the city. Property owners would be allowed to have up to four chickens on their property. Resident Nicole Harrington was among those speaking in favor of the proposed ordinance…
“This would provide us in the community with good healthy options as well as more self sustainability. So I think our community, especially being rural, known for the Clay County Fair, we should, you know, kind of get up to current times. We’re seeing a lot of backyard chicken ordinances already approved and passed in more urban areas.”
Councilman Bill Orrison expressed concern over possible issues with rodents should back yard chickens be allowed…
“I have a family member who raises chickens in a community in the state of Washington. And the problem, or the challenge they have, is rodent control. To the point where they ended up having to basically, their chickens are inside all the time because they cannot go out. And that was the only way that they were able to control the rodents, and I’ve got a concern about that. Because if you’ve got one rodent, you’ve probably got a whole lot more some place else.”
Orrison also expressed concern over potential enforcement issues and additional work for the city’s Planning and Zoning personnel…
“Alec and his new person after him are going to have to monitor this and take care of nuisance complaints and those sort of things. And I think right now we don’t have any idea what that might be.”
The first reading of the proposed ordinance was narrowly approved on a four-to-three vote. It comes back to the council for a second reading at their next meeting.
