POST YOUR "DEAR MAYOR" LETTERS HERE ! ("DEAR TOWN BOARD", etc.)

[NightingaleJen]

Oh, all right! We moved out of the 'burgh in to the WV panhandle (way, way lower taxes) and Hubby commutes. (I'm originally from the 'burbs of Detroit!) I only found out about the coop tour here by accident, but it was a happy one.

You do need to get out of your bubble! ;D

Keep us posted. I hope you can get chickens! I'm putting together a plan for trying to get chickens here, too; the laws are silly. Free the chickens!

 

[dazed81]

This is awesome. I have been a lurker here and there for a while now, but just today found out that one of my neighbors decided to "retaliate" by asking the village board to tell me I have to get rid of my chickens. Before getting chickens, I checked all the ordinances (actually my OTHER neighbor is the retired village clerk, and she did all the "checking") and we have had them since March, but this woman is now starting to stir up trouble. Someone from the board came to me and warned me, and asked me to get together information on other "city" ordinances, to show the board that if you can have chickens in Chicago, Springfield, and other cities in Illinois and across the nation, there is no reason to change the rules and rewrite our village ordinance to exclude them.

My question is, if there was no ordinance against them when we investigated, and the current and prior clerks were aware we were getting them, and they have been here peacefully for months now, if they decide to rewrite anything, is it legal for them to make me get rid of them or should I be grand"feathered" in somehow?

I have started by printing out other ordinances and also articles form reputable news sources. This website has been a GREAT reference. Now I am in the process of delivering fresh eggs to my neighbors who support me and asking them to sign a statement that they have known of the chickens and enjoy their presence, or at the least are not bothered by it.

Next I will be writing a letter to the board and mayor in order for them to be aware of what is going on, and ask for their support. I will be including the signatures and local ordinances in addition to the letter. This is great for giving my ideas on what to say to them!

 

[dessny]

dazed81,
I don't know what the law really is, but I have heard of areas where they made laws about chickens and the people had to reduce their flock size. In the town where I live, I think this sort of thing is going to be my biggest problem. Years ago, in a craze where everyone got potbelly pigs, the city allowed it, then neighbors complained the pigs stunk and the city had to make the owners get rid of them. On top of that, "legal" isn't really a huge issue to these small towns. The Ordinance Officer straight up told me he is not aloud to enforce the local law of no more than 3 dogs because it is "un-constitutional." But a police officer CAN enforce this "un-constitutional" law. I say play the small town atmosphere to your advantage. Buddy up with city hall, make some friends, be the nice guy, and a great representative for chicken owners everywhere by giving no one ANYTHING to complain about.
Maybe that neighbor will chill if you are being a model citizen and the city tells her to shut up.

Honestly, this crazy neighbor thing is another thing I worry about. Yes, all my yard neighbors like the idea, but there is an old lady across the street who I know will cause a stink the moment she finds out. So I am just hoping she never does.

(LOL I just read this to my husband, who responded with "Yep, she called the cops for me skateboarding in front of OUR house.")

 

[thekid]

Quote:
New Ken.... PA? lol i cant find nobody from pa on here it seems

 

[dessny]

Quote:
New Ken.... PA? lol i cant find nobody from pa on here it seems

Yea, "New Ken.... PA"...

There seemed to be a decent amount of ppl on the PA thread, but yea, I guess it should be more.

 

[dazed81]

oh no, this neighbor will not chill. She is NOT stable, and I mean that quite literally. our landlord had a cease and desist order sent to her in 2008, and she has had a police warning for disorderly conduct in 2010 and another just last week, which is when she then decided to retaliate. She didn't even know we had the chickens until last week... because they are not even visible from her house. I have a three page letter and a whole packet of information regarding city ordinances allowing chickens. At this point in time someone actually told me that the village won't change the ordinance because they can't afford to write one, seriously. That's why they can't write one about cars sitting around in grass, or garbage piled buy people's houses. Crazy, huh?

My husband liked my letter but I am not sure if it will work. I plan on mailing it to the mayor and each city council member BEFORE the next board meeting, and leaving my packet of information at the village hall for them to peruse at their leisure if they choose.

Unfortunately I also had to detail the whole history and legal situation with this neighbor, in hopes that the village sees that she is unstable and is acting in retaliation.

It's long, but let me know if you would like to read it

The kicker is that when the lady from the board contacted me, she told me that she didn't even know that there was any ordinance already. Duh. LOL.

 

[dessny]

I would make a packet for each board member. Assume they are lazy and won't seek out the information, even if they just have to walk into the next room for it. (Like you saw from the board member you already spoke with.) The City Clerk here said to drop off my info and he would make copies for each person. So I take that as, that they want their own... So I made up my own packets for each person so they looked nicer in their "report folders". (Made by Avery, I thought they looked nice with the clear cover. The papers were in page slips so it flips thru easily.) OOH and just hand deliver the whole thing. I don't mean to each person individually, but here, I gave it to the Clerk and he got them to the right people. (Hopefully) But it gives you a chance to get them to see your face and become a human in the issue.
It does sound like you have a serious loon on your hands here... No fun. My dad was an attorney and felt that issues with neighbors were often worse than divorces. He had a case that lasted like 20 years between neighbors.
I would like to read your letter, sounds interesting. You can post it, PM it or email it to me, don't care.

 

[dazed81]

this would be a HUGE Packet. And I don't want them to think I am a loon. Some of them already probably do. I will try to email it to you, it is in a PDF File now

 

[dessny]

Update- My first City Counsel meeting tonight. I gave them each a nicer looking copy of this:

Backyard Chickens

City Benefit
Lower tonnage to landfill- weeds, grass clippings, hedge clippings, food scraps, paper, etc. All can be used as food or bedding and composted.
Less chemical run-off- cleaner sewer system
Potential publicity- There seems to be a story every week on the news or in the paper about chicken ownership in Pittsburgh.
Increased funds- Some cities require a permit to raise chickens.
Happy residents who appreciate the cities actions to encourage a “greener” lifestyle

Suggested Ownership Guidelines
Limit of 4 hens
No roosters
No disturbance- odors to neighbors property, excessive noise
Coop and run area must be clean and well-kept
Secure containment- Chickens must be kept in, and predators kept out. Food and bedding must also be contained in a rodent-proof container.
Coop set-back 20 feet from doors and windows of neighbors homes.

Economy
The cost of food has risen dramatically, including the cost of high‐quality protein‐rich nutrient‐dense food such as pastured eggs. Pastured organic eggs cost $4 a dozen. In comparison, four or five backyard hens will require a total of about $60 in feed each year and lay about 120 dozen eggs between them, depending on breed and age. That’s a savings of over $400 a year. In addition, an egg provides about 7 grams of protein, which means those 120 dozen eggs - obtained at a cost of $60 per year ‐ will supply the complete protein needs of the average woman. The ability to raise some of your own food can help provide a greater sense of security in insecure times.

Education
Chicken keeping offers suburban children the opportunity to learn where their food really comes from and about healthy, sustainable, nutritious food. They will see first hand how kitchen scraps become garden fertilizer which in turn produces beautiful vegetables. Instead of simply hearing, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” they will actually experience it. Suburban kids can participate in 4H or FFA programs through keeping chickens in a suburban yard.

Emergency Preparedness
Many governments are asking community members to prepare for emergencies, whatever the cause. Backyard chickens provide a constant stream of fresh eggs without regard to the availability of electricity or refrigeration. Backyard hens will help our community be more food self‐sufficient under any circumstances.

Environment
The average chicken keeper is also a gardener, and (unlike the feces of dogs and cats, which carry pathogens and should not be composted) chicken droppings represent an excellent source of free organic fertilizer when composted. Gardeners using commercial organic fertilizers are very likely to be using chicken‐manure based products.

Chickens reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides by eating bugs and weeds. By their very presence, chickens discourage the use of chemical lawn and garden sprays by their owners. Chicken keeping is likely to represent a net improvement in water and runoff issues rather than the opposite. Issues of manure runoff from egg‐producing chickens are associated with huge factory‐style egg farms that generate tons of manure each day in a very concentrated area.

Grass clippings, hedge clippings, dry fall leaves, wood shavings, pine needles, coffee grounds, news paper and shredded paper can be used as bedding and composted. Chicken compost and manure is often found on craigslist for sale. Straw and hay can also be purchased for use as bedding, but this seems like an excellent opportunity to lessen garbage for neighbors also.

Sustainability
Increasing numbers of us are interested in living more sustainably, and many communities are encouraging citizens to reduce waste and consumption of resources. Backyard chickens allow us to reduce our carbon footprint by producing some of our own food. Every food item we can produce organically and on our own property is one less item that must be shipped to us and shopped for. Every item of food we raise ourselves represents a step in living a greener, more sustainable, lifestyle.

People who have backyard chickens are less likely to use chemicals and pesticides in their yards and gardens because it’s healthier for their chickens. In return the chickens eat weeds and bugs that normally plague unsprayed yards. Composted chicken manure is one of the most efficient natural fertilizers and is provided for free with no need for transport. Backyard chickens eat grass clippings which might otherwise end up in the landfills and food scraps which might end up in the garbage and sewage.

Noise
The occasional clucking of hens is generally not audible beyond 25 feet. Some hens give a few squawks while actually laying an egg or bragging about it afterward, but this noise is from inside the coop and very short‐lived and much quieter than barking dogs, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, passing trucks, children playing, and other common neighborhood sounds.
Roosters are the noisy ones who crow. They are not necessary for hens to lay eggs.

Smell
Chickens themselves do not smell. Any possible odor would come from their droppings, but 5 hens generate less manure than one medium‐sized dog (.2 ‐ .3 pound of droppings per day, as compared to the average dog which produces 1 pound, according to the National Pet Alliance.) Chicken droppings are inherently smaller than that from larger animals, which allows them to dry out sooner. Proper bedding dries it out sooner also. Dry droppings smell less.
Unsanitary conditions can result in a buildup of ammonia in large‐scale operations, which is why commercial poultry facilities often smell. This is not the case for small backyard flocks.

Predators
Most often, dogs socialized with chickens pose them no threat. But it is not uncommon for a small flock of chickens too be lost to a dog. Cats and hawks pose little threat to adult chickens and show little interest in them. Raccoons and opossums would love to get their paws on chickens and their eggs. This is one reason why chickens must be securely contained.

Rodents
Wild bird feeders are more of a draw to rodents than having chickens. Chickens should be fed within their enclosed area, where rodents can’t access. It is also wise to feed early so no food remains at night. Overall, chickens help keep the area clean from what would have otherwise been an attraction for mice and rats.

(And gave them 3 picture sheets, one showing beautiful chickens, another showing they are personable (pics of chickens w/ kids etc.), the other of beautiful coops.)

A couple of weeks ago, I posted that I dropped off a packet (which I posted on here) for them to read, which they were very impressed with and discussed between themselves privately ahead of time. They emphasized that I have really done my homework, I really don't think they have seen anything this well put together before. But they are concerned this will make more work for the already overworked code enforcement officers (only 2 on staff). Makes total sense for this to be a concern for them. But, they encouraged me to pursue this and not give up.
The City Solicitor (who a neighbor warned me would be awful and belligerent, and of course he was very nice to me) suggested I go to the Planning Counsel. They all seemed to like the idea, but worry about liability. So I have to convince the Planning Counsel and it's in the bag. So here is where I get optimistic... the City Solicitor said "Mr. Bruni" is in charge of the Planning Counsel... this would have to be someone who I already know and like. One "Mr. Bruni" is an attorney and works in the office where my dad used to work and still calls me "sweetheart". His nephew bought his house from my family, 2 houses away from my house (next door to my mother). We get along very well. He has 2 brothers, but I have this feeling the man who is in charge of this is his father.
Here is my hang up, Planning Counsel meets Tuesday next week, I WILL BE IN LAS VEGAS! I don't want to wait a whole month just to meet with them. Then its always a week after city counsel so that would make me have to wait till SEPTEMBER to take it to City Counsel again at the soonest! So I think I am going to bug my Bruni neighbor, find out who's in charge, and see if someone will possibly please present my info for me.
Now I have to try to find info to feed the new group of people, more on how many complaints do cities typically get about chickens, etc.

ANYONE WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS? I know I have read articles with great info on this, but must have forgotten to bookmark or print.

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe you could mention some chickens are great mousers. That would get my vote any day. Very well done -