Hi everyone, the e-news reporter called me today, all those very nice comments i had, on the story he did, he accidentally lost them when he changed computer formats, oh well, he interviewed me again today, and put this story up, if anyone wants to leave me another comment i would appreciate it, he said he never had so many comments on any of his stories like that one generated. here is the story he did today....
2/25/10
Chicken ordinance set for Tuesday work session
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If council should get a recommendation to allow backyard chickens in Roanoke Rapids, Penny Avent says, I would be the happiest person in the world.
If not, Avent says she would say, Id tried.
While he would not confirm in a telephone interview today what his recommendation would be, comments by City Manager Paul Sabiston today indicate he will most likely not recommend council go ahead with the matter.
The issue is on the agenda for Tuesdays 5:15 p.m. work session in city hall, Sabiston said, and the city manager has done what council asked him to do contact cities and towns which do have urban chicken ordinances.
Rocky Mount, they have an ordinance that allows chickens, Sabiston said. Theyre not necessarily encouraging them and they (are only allowed) in larger lots. There has to be so many acres.
Officials in Rocky Mount didnt know of anyone keeping chickens, he said.
In Wake Forest there have been three or four permits issued, the city manager said, and Hendersons ordinance wasnt much different than the other towns he checked with. I didnt get the feeling (they were) strong (proponents).
While Avent has presented the benefits of backyard chickens, Sabiston said he will include in his memo to council some drawbacks, including disease and problems created by chicks coming from hatcheries as well as dead chickens.
For Avent, raising chickens in her backyard off Powell Street has been one of her pleasures for four years until police discovered she was keeping them while chasing what she described as a drunk person.
Before then she quietly raised the chickens and gave eggs to her neighbors. My neighbors loved them, she said. Theyre clean.
Talks with the county cooperative extension service indicated there would be no problems, she said.
Then, however, the drunken and loud man ran through her backyard, the police after him. The police said they would have to call animal control.
She said animal control complimented her on the nice setup she had for the chickens but she was still wasnt allowed to keep them under city ordinances.
In January she went to council to ask if there could be an ordinance. Since then she has become popular in backyard chicken circles. Im not trying to be, she said. I just want my chickens.
She said there hasnt been a run on people buying chickens since she petitioned council to allow them. I appreciate everyones support, she said, adding later, I think a permit would be perfect.
