Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[ladyrsanti]

There has been a bunch of publicity thus far. That is part of the problem. The city has been embarrassed as were the one or two neighbors. As a result, the harassment has been stepped up, even as some officials are backing away from the issue.

I'll add more to the story as much as I can. I like to wait a bit to approach it objectively before I post. And as for the legal aspect, I will not discuss on-going strategy until the case is resolved. Please bear with me.

Quote:
Sorry, I was confused by the two statements. At first, it sounded like you'd had enough. I did write the governor, again, and all of the commissioners. I can send more. What about the Free Press again? Let them know what their story did, the injustice of it and ask them to do it again? You know, in a masochistic sort of way, lol.

 

[Maah]

Quote:

The link for the petition was hidden in the comments. Here it is:

http://www.change.org/petitions/cit...ance-change-to-allow-backyard-chicken-keeping

 

[SillyChicken]

FYI: they only want people from Midland to sign it.

 

[Maah]

FYI: they only want people from Midland to sign it.

Yikes,... I missed that part. Well, my sister lived in Midland for many years. Just recently moved... but it almost makes us connected to Midland, right? Ugh.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

The irony is that this whole area was zoned as RF1 (residential farm - 1 family home). Then without notice, the zoning was changed to increase the tax base.

That is maddening! Any one who already had chickens should have been grandfathered in and allowed to keep the chickens.

I signed the Midland petition. I used to live just out side of Midland. Here is the direct link to the petition for those who had a hard time finding it in the article:
http://www.change.org/petitions/cit...ance-change-to-allow-backyard-chicken-keeping

Oops, I missed that part too about only wanting folks from Midland to sign. Well my comment that I left said I used to live out side of town at least.

 

[chickflick]

Little girl leads call for change allowing backyard chickens
BY GARY GOULD
810-452-2650 • [email protected]
Photo by Gary Gould DAVISON — Chloe Hinkley, 9, said she just likes chickens — and she wouldn’t mind having some free eggs for her family to enjoy either.
After selling her parents on her detailed plan to build a chicken coop in the family’s backyard, raise chickens and harvest their eggs, the little girl who loves animals then had to take on city hall to change the local ordinances.
Davison has an ordinance restricting farm animals from residing within the city limits. Chloe’s father, former City Councilman Chris Hinkley, currently serves on the planning commission and he took his daughter’s proposal up with the city leaders.
“The city ordinance doesn’t allow (chickens),” said Hinkley. “So (Chloe) asked me ‘how do we get the law changed?’”
The matter has been before the planning commission and is now going to a public hearing Sept. 9 at 7:35 p.m. in council chambers. A new ordinance under consideration would allow residents to own up to four chickens.
Other communities have already taken the lead, allowing but limiting backyard chickens. Fenton, Burton, Clio, Flushing and Linden have so far passed ordinances allowing residents to raise a limited number of chickens.
The push for raising chickens stems from Michigan’s Right to Farm Act and people who see backyard farming as a way to help cut some costs in difficult economic times.
Hinkley said his neighbors have been supportive of the plan, especially after he reassured them they would not own a rooster. He is married and the couple has two other children besides Chloe.

There has been mixed reception around the city however, with concerns raised about smell, water runoff and noise.
Still others say they are in favor of allowing chickens, as long as it is regulated.
Chloe, who said she’d some day like to be a veterinarian, said its not just about having a “odd pet” or harvesting eggs, but she said she thinks owning and raising chickens is a good way for children to learn about money, operating a business and responsibility.
“It’s good to challenge a child,” she said. “It builds confidence. It teaches about money management. I’ve spent a lot of time online studying about chickens — I like studying.”

 

[preciouskitty]

Fuzzy -- so sorry about your roo

I am really getting sick & tired of all these "politicians" trying (&, in many cases lately, succeeding) to take our rights away; at the local, state AND federal level. It is seriously getting bad.

On a good note, I got a nice large egg from one of my 18 week old girls. Two others laid what I think was their first today. In fact, one was in the nest box laying when I got home. It was small like some of the first I got 2 weeks ago, so pretty sure it was her first time!

Oh, and Blackie survived his torn off toenail. Kept him inside overnight, was gonna for 2 nights, but DH decided to check on him, didn't shut bedroom door before opening dog crate & Blackie escaped to go on a nice tour of the whole house until DH could push him out the door to join his flock

 

[Opa]

Dealing with local officials has always been a pet peeve of mine. In one community we built a small deck for a homeowner. The township zoning board member/ordinance officer refused to give use a land use permit because he was mad at the subdivision's developer and with some of the homeowners in that subdivision who had erected small storage barns on an easement. None of this had anything to do with our homeowner or us yet we got jacked around for 3 months trying to get the necessary paper work completed. Finally after making our intent to take legal action at a township board meeting we finally got the necessary land use permit. When the project was completed we had over twice as many hours in permit filing as in the actual construction of the deck.

Big government is a job killing pain and local governments are oft times worse.

 

[RTFchickens]

Yes, our rights are slowly being flushed down the toilet by the people who are SUPPOSED to be upholding our constitution.
It bothers me that we cannot keep animals on OUR property!
RAZ, I have been following you and your story for a few months now. This is harassment in a major way!
Can we go march on the capital or something?!?

 

[preciouskitty]

Dealing with local officials has always been a pet peeve of mine.  In one community we built a small deck for a homeowner.  The township zoning board member/ordinance officer refused to give use a land use permit because he was mad at the subdivision's developer and with some of the homeowners in that subdivision who had erected small storage barns on an easement.  None of this had anything to do with our homeowner or us yet we got jacked around for 3 months trying to get the necessary paper work completed.  Finally after making our intent to take legal action at a township board meeting we finally got the necessary land use permit.  When the project was completed we had over twice as many hours in permit filing as in the actual construction of the deck. 

Big government is a job killing pain and local governments are oft times worse.

 

Opa, I couldn't agree with you more. I, too have had issues with local gvt zoning boards in different municipalities.

Sometimes I think people get on these "boards" just for some sort of power trip, without any concern with who or what they are hurting in the process with their "edicts". I actually have other reasons I suspect but they probably are not appropriate for a public forum

Wow.. Did we just have a nice magenta line of storms come thru here. Hail & all; probably 2" of rain in 30 min. So much for getting lawn done as intended when I left work early. But on a positive note, the birds are loving digging for worms right now