Residents address council in support of backyard chickens

Tecumseh City Council moved forward Monday with the first reading of Ordinance No. 1-15 Amendment to Section 10-1 Prohibited Animals, with six-of-seven council members voting in the affirmative. Council member Ron Wimple was the sole dissenting vote.The resolution to approve the first reading of the ordinance garnered no discussion from council. “It is important to understand that the animals that were prohibited in the ordinance, as long as this ordinance has been in place, have always been prohibited so we’re not putting new prohibitions on those animals,” said Tecumseh City Manager Kevin Welch. The vote came after nine people spoke in support of the city allowing residents to keep backyard chickens — a proposition that was defeated at the December 1 city council meeting. “I find that there’s a certain element of fear mongering, I believe, that is going on on this issue,” said Christopher Wanke, a Tecumseh resident. “I would not want to stand in the way of someone who, as a parent, would want to improve the quality of food that they could give their family.” A few that spoke were critical of council’s decision at the previous meeting. Jeannie Bauman said she felt that instead of considering the facts and provided information; council’s decision was made based on personal experience and misinformation. “Instead of sticking in the past, we are trying to encourage people to come to our city and settle here and we want to be as welcoming and, again, forward thinking and progressive as possible,” Bauman added. “Based on the last meeting, there’s was very little — in fact there were no facts that were brought forward as to why not,” said Tom Hawkins, of Tecumseh. “Just a lot of feelings as to what we think is going to happen.”Hawkins asked council to take a little bit more time on the issue, adding that Raisin Township has two chicken permits and has had zero complaints. “If the city council cares about your citizens freedoms, this is an important step to make,” said Corey Lord. “Another thing to point out, this town has a value of innovation. This town has always been a place where first steps have been made and people have enjoyed it. And this is something that would probably bring in more people because of that innovation.” Tecumseh resident Greg Perez said he hopes dialogue on the issue could continue. Lee Walsh proposed having council approve a pilot program that would allow 10 or 12 households to keep backyard chickens so council and residents could become educated on the issue, while providing local data about the number and types of complaints and problems that could occur.Walsh added that Lakewood, Ohio, and Orlando, Fla., both have such pilot programs. Nobody who spoke was in opposition of allowing backyard chickens. In a memo provided to council, Welch said if council entertained the idea of a pilot program for backyard chickens, he would like time to allow him and Tecumseh City Attorney Scott Baker time to research the legal aspects of the request.Welch wrote in the memo, “…we want to ensure all of our residents are treated fairly and equally, and allowing some to have chickens while prohibiting others from doing so may very well cut against that goal.” The ordinance change would eliminate Welch’s ability to approve requests for prohibited animals, which he is currently allowed to do. Under the current ordinance, if a request is denied, the person seeking approval for a prohibited animal could then appeal to council, which would also be removed from the ordinance if council approves the ordinance change. The new ordinance would read, “No farm animal, wild animal or nondomestic animal, such as a horse, cow, swine, sheep, goat, goose, duck, chimpanzee, or alligator, shall be kept in the city.”An added provision states that the two city permits for Vietnamese Potbelly Pigs would continue to exist until the pigs die or moves outside the city, at which point the permits would be automatically revoked.In other business, council:• Approved an ordinance change that would allow a retired city clerk, deputy clerk and treasurer to return to part-time employment, by title only. • Reappointed Phil Krieger and Michele Garner to serve on the Election Commission for another one-year term expiring January 2016.• Scheduled Welch’s performance review for January 5 in closed session.• Renewed the Community Arts of Tecumseh lease agreement to use the house located at John W. Smith Park beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending December 31, 2015. The lease is for $500 a month.

Tecumseh Herald

 

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