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Hiawatha Commission Asked to Allow Chickens

By Greg Bebermeyer

09/05/2012

( KNZA )--The Hiawatha City Commission doesn’t appear willing to change the city’s ordinance prohibiting chickens in the city limits, despite a request from a local couple to do so.

Arlo and Marilee Koehn, who live at 414 Delaware Street, told commissioners Tuesday evening they would like to raise and maintain three hens in an approved enclosure and asked commissioners to reconsider the ordinance in light of the “ Go Green” national trend....( play audio )

Local resident Tony Hull, who was present at the meeting, said she had a lot of concerns about allowing chickens in the city limits....( play audio )

Information provided by the Koehn’s showed most area cities don’t allow chickens or only in certain areas.

Commissioner Bill Collins said the issue has been addressed in the past and he feels comfortable with the current ordinance prohibiting chickens.

Commissioner Steffen Shamburg said he also doesn’t favor allowing chickens. Mayor Crosby Gernon said he tends to agree with the two commissioners, saying the only way it would work is if all neighbors were in agreement.

Commissioner Irv Schwalm was the only commissioner to speak in support of allowing chickens. Schwalm said he doesn’t see anything wrong with allowing them in enclosures on an individual permit basis.

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