The Cluck Stopped At City Hall
Some feathers were definitely ruffled after Warsaw Common Council voted Monday night prohibiting chickens in the city limits.
While those who took at least 2 months working to carefully draft the ordinance were hailed for their hard work and attention to detail, ultimately, the majority of the council members present could not agree on some final details. As presented, the ordinance garnered a 2-3 vote. With two members of the council absent, a 4-1 vote was needed.
Councilwoman Diane Quance said she has heard from several people in her district not in favor of hens in incorporated areas. She also noted that some of those she spoke with were realtors who said it would be probable that property values would be negatively affected.
Further, Quance questioned who or what department would be responsible for enforcing the ordinance and codes pertaining to the chickens. “We have codes now that are not being enforced, so why would be introducing more?” she asked.
A total of 9 citizens spoke in favor of allowing hens to be raised by city residents. Only one, Mike Ragan, who opposed the ordinance at the Warsaw Planning Commission’s March meeting (see related), also spoke Monday night in protest.
Most of those in favor of allowing hens spoke of the learning opportunities for children that could come of it, the health benefits of home grown hens and fresh eggs, and the minimal sounds and even waste and odor from keeping a small flock of hens. Ragan said he has heard from many others outside of the meeting that oppose hens and lauded him for speaking out publicly.
“We talk about people having the right to do things on their own property, then why do we have deed restrictions?” he asked. “Realtors don’t say farm animals can help property values.”
James Bausch, the brainchild behind the chicken ordinance, stressed as he had at every public meeting regarding the issue, that those who want to raise hens would take it seriously and do it the right way. He estimated start up costs for raising 5 hens — what would have been the maximum number of hens under the ordinance — would equate to approximately $400. “We’re talking about a very small number of people who would do this,” he added.
While the council did consider waivers as an amendment to the ordinance, even the option of those were seemingly split by those in attendance and on the council. The waivers mentioned dealt with adjacent neighbors having to agree to anyone’s request to raise backyard chickens.
In the absence of councilman Jeff Grose and Charlie Smith, Quance was the only council member to object to waivers, noting she was opposed to the entire ordinance based on her district’s overall wishes. Upon the actual vote failing, sighs and grunts of disappointment filled the council chambers. It also brought about questions from those present about what it meant.
“It’s dead!” said city attorney Mike Valentine. “It’s a dead issue. It can be presented again in a different form, but this one is done.”
Those in favor of the ordinance as presented were Mike Klondaris, who also serves on the Warsaw Plan Commission that approved the ordinance for the common council’s consideration, and Jerry Frush. Those opposed were Quance, Elaine Call and Cindy Dobbins.