Polls open Tuesday for General Election

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters will be heading to the ballot box. Locally, only those in the City of Tecumseh will be casting their ballot, which will decide three city council seats and an ordinance allowing backyard chickens.

Three seats for city council are up for election, with five candidates running. Three of those incumbents are seeking reelection. The incumbents are Gary Naugle, Vicki Philo and Laurence Van Alstine Jr. The two newcomers vying for election are Gayle Keiser and Jason Ziemer. The terms are for two years.

City of Tecumseh residents will also vote on language for an ordinance allowing backyard chickens in the city. The proposed ordinance reads:

“Proposed Section 10.4: Residents may keep up to six female chickens (“hens”) at their single-family dwelling. No male chickens (“roosters) are allowed. Chickens must be housed in a secure enclosed structure (“coop”) that allows a minimum of four square feet of space per bird. Chickens must be kept inside the coop or a securely fenced area at all times to keep them confined on the owner’s property. Coops must be located in the backyard only, at a minimum of ten feet from property lines. Chicken feed must be stored securely so as not to attract predators or vermin. Waste materials must be disposed of in a responsible manner. Homeowners’ association rules take precedence over this ordinance. No permits, registrations, inspections, or fees are required to keep chickens.
“Should Section 10-1 (a) of the city code be amended to delete chickens as a prohibited animal, and Section 10.4 be added to permit Tecumseh’s single-family residential citizens to keep a limited number of chickens, subject to certain restrictions?”

Voters in precincts 1 and 3 will be voting at the Smith Recreation Center, 108 N. Evans St. Precinct 2 voters will cast their ballot at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts, 400 N. Maumee St. Precinct 4 voters will be heading to the Harold Easton Emergency Services Building, 101 E. Russell Rd. to vote.