Chickens are back in the news for the City of Wayland.
After nearly a one-year hiatus, the City Council has agreed to revisit a proposal to craft a local ordinance permitting the keeping of a small number of chickens at residences within the city limits.
No decision was made on the issue a year ago, and new City Manager Joshua Eggleston suggested the council may want to avoid leaving it hanging in limbo. So prospects now are good for a special meeting on chickens in September or October.
Kelle Tobolic, who also is chairwoman of the Main Street DDA Board, wasted no time in expressing her opposition to allowing chickens in the city.
“I thought we already had an ordinance for this,” she said. “I think it’s a want and not a need. You can raise chickens, but not in the city.”
She also she didn’t like the possibility that Wayland police officers would be summoned to residences to handle chicken-related complaints.
One man in the audience echoed her sentiments, but two others disagreed, with one saying, “I’d like to see the chicken ordinance (issue) go back on the table for discussion.”
Councilwoman Jennifer Antel said, “I’ve heard a lot more about this chicken issue than any other in my 13 years on the council.”
She suggested the council have committee meetings of just a few to come up with a proposal for council to consider, but Tim Rose’s idea of a special meeting prevailed because he said that way many more opinions could be considered.
In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the council:
• Noted the splash pad in the City Park likely will be shut down for the season after the Labor Day weekend.
• Approved recommendations from the Planning Commission for rezoning two parcels on Reno Drive, one for expansion of the a self-storage business.
• Approved the recommendation from the Planning Commission for a special use permit for a day care business to start up on Apollo Drive.
• Authorized the purchase of a new junior wing snow plow at a cost of $13,474, the low bid.
