Well, that was a short-lived effort.
West Bend will remain chicken-free as officials highlighted their concerns to permit chickens in the area, despite several constituents publicly stating they are in favor of the measure. An ordinance that would modify the municipal code to allow chickens within city limits failed Monday because no other Common Council members would support the motion introduced by Alderman Chris Jenkins. Many highlighted enforcement issues and concerns from residents worried about the smell and noise.
I am not at all surprised by outcome. Smaller towns and cities tend to have strong feelings against chickens being in an urban settting. This tends to be a bigger urban/hipster thing in larger cities.
I would have been surprised if it had passed.
I’m as pro property rights as the next guy, but I’ll quote one of my fellow Board members that was passionately opposed to an ordinance like this, “You want farm animals, live in the country!”
It’s tough to counter that kind of passion of those who live in urban setting to be away from things unique to non-urban settings.
“Smaller towns and cities tend to have strong feelings against chickens being in an urban settting”.
Just wondering where you got that information. It certainly doesn’t hold true for our part of the state. All the small towns around here allow chickens, some even encourage it. Keeping a half dozen hens in the proper housing generates no smell, daily eggs and some great nutrients for the garden or lawn. And it is a great experience for kids as a learning experience.
Nord,
I’ll refine my statement for Southeast WI, and not the areas where you have a chicken coup in every front yard. Are there any areas in your neck of the woods that could even be considered urban? Reading some of your posts, it sounds like it is very rural.
I’ll let you define “urban”. Also define “smaller towns and cities” while you are at it. Then I’ll let you know. I don’t want to misinterpret your allegation.
Free range is better than all cooped up.
Nord,
You are hilarious, you want to still get in a chicken poo fight on an issue I essentially agree with you on.
Nope, just keeping you on your toes.
Obviously, I troll here for the comedic value but you’ll have to do better to surpass Owen’s “Choking the chickens is frowned upon in West Bend.”