The West Liberty Village Council conducted a public meeting Tuesday, Oct. 12, regarding the proposed chicken ordinance in the village.
The council took no action at this meeting and just listened to public comments, officials report.
Council members will discuss the proposed ordinance and any changes along with the feedback received from the public (via in person conversations, comments made at the meeting, and email comments sent to them) at the regularly scheduled council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24.
If after discussion the Council decides to move forward with this proposed ordinance, then a first reading will occur. Then at the Nov. 7 Council meeting the second reading would occur.
The third and final reading would occur at the Nov. 21 Council meeting. All meeting times are at 7 p.m.
At any point in time during this process, council may decide to change the ordinance or members may change his or her vote on this proposed ordinance.
All meetings are open to the public and the public will be allowed to comment during public participation at each of these meetings. Each individual may speak for two minutes during public participation (there is no sharing or yielding time to another individual).
The proposed ordinance states that there shall be no free-range chickens and there shall be no roosters or any fowl other than chickens, including geese, turkeys, ducks, quail, or predatory birds may be kept in the Village of West Liberty.
The ordinance also states no more than a total of six chicken hens shall be kept on a parcel or lot area.Water shall be provided onsite and accessible to chickens at all times.
Enclosures required by the ordinance are outlined as follows: “Chicken hens shall be provided with a covered, predator-proof coop or cage that is well ventilated and designed to be easily accessed for cleaning. Each coop or cage shall allow at least 1-square foot of free movement per hen. Chicken hens shall have access to an outdoor enclosure adequately fenced or otherwise bounded to contain the hens on the property and to prevent access by dogs or other predators and providing at least 10-square feet per hen.”
Sanitation requirements include a cage/coop and outdoor enclosure that must be kept in a sanitary condition and free from offensive odors. The cage/coop and outdoor enclosure must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent accumulation of waste.
Setbacks included in the ordinance are: Coops or cages housing chickens shall be kept at least 25 feet from doors or windows of any occupied structure other than the owner’s dwelling. Coops or cages housing chickens may not be located in front yard or side street yard and shall not be located within 3 feet of a side yard line, nor within 5 feet of a rear yard line.
All voting by the council is in public according to the Sunshine Laws from the Ohio Revised Code. If you wish to speak at any of the meetings, we ask that you call the Clerk’s Office ahead of time at (937) 465-2716.