ACHTUNG: The following is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.

Former Vice President Al Gore years ago produced a film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” which attempted to make a strong case for doing something about climate change, otherwise known as global warming.

Closer to home, the Wayland City Council this coming week is likely to ride the wave of “A Convenient Truth” to avoid having to make a controversial and potentially unpleasant decision about a proposed local chicken ordinance.

Council members last month learned about the existence of a nearby turkey production facility that may preclude the City of Wayland from adopting a new ordinance allowing residents to raise chickens in their back yards. A representative from the Cooperative Extension Service at Michigan State University Oct. 1 recommended against permitting raising chickens if there is a poultry production facility located within four miles.

So the presence of such a facility within that four miles, the Dan Dykstra farm operation on 136th Avenue, could doom an ordinance to let up to 10 residents to raise chickens on their properties.

A new proposed ordinance has been prepared and crafted by City manager Josh Eggleston, but now it appears council members now have an excuse not to adopt a new ordinance. Those uncomfortable with permitting chickens within the city limits as a result can maintain their hands are tied by rules and recommendations dealing with nearby poultry facilities.

The proposed rules now under study would permit up to four chickens on as many as 10 properties within the city limits and set fees for maintaining them. They would be permitted by the zoning enforcement administrator, Professional Code Inspections.

But it looks like the question now is moot. Advocates of raising chickens within the city limits may already have lost their battle.