Minot City Council narrowly strikes down proposed chicken ordinance
MINOT, N.D. - Minot residents looking to house
chickens and hens on their property will have to wait for now. Minot's City Council narrowly struck down a motion at their regular meeting Oct. 3 to adjust city ordinance that would have allowed just that.
A handful of Minot residents came to the meeting to show support for the idea and share their reasons for why they thought chickens and hens should be allowed.
The supporters cited healthier food, education on where food comes from, companionship and other benefits, including fertilizer and bug control.
Minot Alderman Lisa Olson proposed a motion that would have allowed up to three such hens in an enclosed coop, with restrictions that would force the owners to care for the animals.
“Hens fit well in city life. Ninety-three out of 100 of the largest-populated cities in the United States allow city hens, and hundreds of hundreds of other, smaller cities do as well,” said supporter Sara Bloom.
One resident did share concerns with the council on the viability of the idea, claiming the ordinance should stay unchanged, and that the animals would bring more issues than good.
“I do know that places like San Antonio are overrun with loose chickens, and they actually go in various portions of the city with about 10, 15 people to try to round them up. They don't always get all of them, and that's why they keep coming back every year,” said resident Bobby Roberts.
In the end, the council struck down the motion by a vote of 8-to-6.
Crap, now I can't become a Chicken Choken Mother Titty Sprinkler! ;:;banghead
as I won't have any chicken coops to raid.