The Owensville Board of Aldermen revisited a hot topic for city of Owensville residents on Monday — chickens.

The question of whether or not chickens should be approved within the city limits has been posed a number of times before, and at this week’s city meeting, the answer was a unanimous yes.

The topic was brought up July 2 by the newest alderman to the board, Danny Breeden of Ward 1, owner of Snowensville restaurant.

During a continuance of the conversation on Aug. 12, Board President and Ward 1 Alderman Dr. Cathy Lahmeyer requested the discussion be paused in order to allow residents to be present if a vote were to be taken — as requested by her constituents.

Present for Monday’s meeting were local citizens who often referred to themselves as “pro-chicken” and those who are against chickens.

First to speak was Mark Moeller, who has a small acreage approximately three miles north of town.

Moeller said he was “pro-chicken” because of their many benefits.

He highlighted that chickens lay eggs, are good to eat, deter ticks and flies, are generally a profitable bird and can be a good project for children to learn how to take care of animals for a small profit. He noted that the nuisance laws would generally cover any issues with chickens.

Mayor Kevin McFadden was in agreement with the latter, stating the Owensville Police Department (OPD) would only need to become involved if an issue was not properly addressed once reported to the owner. Violations regarding the proposed ordinance would be handled by the city’s code enforcer.

The next speaker was local resident, former alderman and podcaster, Sam Britton.

Britton shared the stance of Moeller, adding “backyard food might come in very handy if we’re hungry enough,” referencing pandemics and supply disruptions.

Nathan Handley approached the podium next and shared his family’s desire to have chickens at their residence behind Maciejewski’s.

“We just want to be able to source some of our own food,” Handley pleaded to the board. “We’ve got a nice garden going. We just want to get chickens to complement it, and especially for the bug control.”

Wayne Kemper, who lives off Oak Brook Drive, a dead-end subdivision across from the park, was the first to approach the board with disapproval of the proposed ordinance.

Kemper first told the board he had a traumatic experience with a chicken when he was 10 years old before moving on to his primary objection to the idea.

“I do agree with the fact that they do wonders for bugs, but the disease that follows chickens around…you can find it within 30 seconds on the internet,” he shared.

He informed the board his father was a hatchery man and dealt with diseases related to his flocks that were unheard of.

“I just want to be on record as being against them,” he said.

McFadden shared from his experience as store director at Cash Saver that the current egg market is extremely high, as bird flu is “decimating chicken houses and also into the fresh chicken market as well.”

Next, resident Gerald Danuser addressed the board.

He shared that he had chickens for three years in the city and never once had a complaint from his neighbors.

He said he received a letter telling him to get rid of them, and he felt it was only because a policeman that was renting from him knew he had chickens.

Resident Barbara Sicht was the second audience member to address the board against having chickens in town.

She shared that she had a former neighbor that had chickens at the rental house next door.

“Roosters were crowing all day at the time and running loose,” she shared. “And the smell was horrible because the guy wasn’t taking care of them.”

She asked who would police those types of issues.

McFadden advised they were working on code enforcement and annual review, and that roosters would not be allowed.

“All you have to do, ma’am,” McFadden began, “ is call the code enforcer or call to the city hall and mention it.” Violations would result in action.

Next, East Madison Avenue resident Jessica Anderson approached the board.

“I respect those who are against chickens,” she said. “I am pro-chicken.”

Anderson pleaded that — within reason — chickens should be allowed with appropriate codes in place.

City Clerk Peggy Farrell read the proposed ordinance, Section 205.150:

“Any person within a residential zoning district (R1, R1A, R2, R3, R4 or R5)... may keep chickens in compliance with the conditions and restrictions set forth. The keeping of chickens and all improvements in animal facilities, including houses, buildings, pens, and coops within the residential zoning district shall comply with the following:

No person shall have more than four hens on any lot. The keeping of a rooster is prohibited. Chickens in all facilities for chickens shall only be kept in the rear yard of the applicant's property.

Chickens shall be kept in chicken coops, chicken runs, or fenced enclosures at all times and shall not be permitted to run at large. Coop structures and chicken runs shall not be constructed or installed within 20 feet of the side property lines or 30 feet of the rear property line. Coops and enclosed areas shall not be visible from adjoining properties at ground level or from any street, public or private, through the proper use of fencing, walls, berms, densely planted vegetation, or any combination thereof.

All improvements and facilities, including chicken coops, chicken runs, and fenced enclosures must comply with the city’s building codes and must be consistent with the requirements of any applicable zoning code, condition of approval of the land use decision, and other land regulations. All chicken coops shall be fully enclosed, roofed, well-ventilated, windproof.

The coop and enclosure shall be maintained in the clean and sanitary conditions at all times. The appearance of the chicken coop, chicken run, and enclosure and materials used to construct such facilities shall resemble backyard coops, which are sold on the common marketplace. The coop, chicken run, and fenced enclosure shall appear professional in design and workmanship.

It shall be constructed with proportional dimensions. Plastic tarps for roofs, junk and material not commercially used for chicken coops or chicken runs, and enclosures will not be allowed. he total area of the coop and enclosure shall be a maximum of 20 square foot chicken run, a maximum of 32 square feet, so with a maximum height of six (feet) tall.

All improvements and facilities shall be maintained in good repair, in a clean, in a sanitary condition, free of vermin, obnoxious smells, and substances. The facility will reasonably prevent the specified animals from roaming at large. So no person shall permit any chicken in their possession to roam at large in or upon the public streets, open lots, or private properties of the city, other than the rear yard of the owner in an enclosed rear yard coop or run that has been installed in accordance with the city.”

“Just to layman’s terms,” Breeden said, “...the goal is to make both sides happy.”

Breeden outlined some key points of the effect of the ordinance including the egg supply of four hens, the actual distance between homes and nearby neighbors’ coops, and that statistically, people are more likely to get hit by a car than to catch bird flu from four chickens.

Ward 2 Alderman Matt Kramme added the regulations would provide favorable results as anyone willing to spend the time, money and effort to go through the process will take care of their coops.

McFadden added, “If it becomes a major problem for the city, then we'll have to re-address the ordinance in general.”

The motion passed unanimously, 4-0, with a bit of reservation by Lahmeyer, who noted she understood her constituents’ concerns.

“There you go, ladies and gentlemen, that’s the passage of the new ordinance,” McFadden said. “Go get your flocks. Go get your coops. Get your eggs.”

Owensville City Hall will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, for the Labor Day holiday.