The latest news from Big Wonderful.
By Ernie Over, managing editor, county10.com
(Riverton, Wyo.) – The Riverton City Council approved on first reading Tuesday night amendments to the city’s animal control ordinances to allow chickens to be raised in within the city limits. The vote was 5-2 with Mayor Ron Warpness and Council member Mary Ellen Christensen voting no.
The council did, however, put some restrictions in place, amending the ordinance to allow no more than 12 chickens and no roosters at any one location, requiring nine square feet of space for each pen and putting in place a 15 foot setback from the property line. Councilors, however, agreed to allow the chicken pens without the setback if the property owner obtained written permission from his or her neighbors. That would allow residents with smaller back yards to still raise chickens if they so desired.
City Administrator Steven Weaver said that there was no objection from the public on the ordinance, as no one attended the meeting to speak on the issue. The question of allowing chickens in the city was first raised by Council Member Todd Smith, who said he had constituents approach him and ask that the code be changed to allow chickens. At previous council meetings, Police Chief Mike Broadhead reported that, to his knowledge, his department had never received a complaint about chickens.
In previous meetings, Christensen recalled that there was a rooster somewhere in her neighborhood, because she could hear it. Mayor Warpness said he voted against the ordinance because he felt chickens should not be allowed city wide, especially not in neighborhoods with a Residential A designation. Smith, and his constituents, however, live in a Residential A zone. After the vote, the Mayor said he was comfortable with the council’s action, according to Weaver.
By Ernie Over, managing editor, county10.com
(Riverton, Wyo.) – The Riverton City Council approved on first reading Tuesday night amendments to the city’s animal control ordinances to allow chickens to be raised in within the city limits. The vote was 5-2 with Mayor Ron Warpness and Council member Mary Ellen Christensen voting no.
The council did, however, put some restrictions in place, amending the ordinance to allow no more than 12 chickens and no roosters at any one location, requiring nine square feet of space for each pen and putting in place a 15 foot setback from the property line. Councilors, however, agreed to allow the chicken pens without the setback if the property owner obtained written permission from his or her neighbors. That would allow residents with smaller back yards to still raise chickens if they so desired.
City Administrator Steven Weaver said that there was no objection from the public on the ordinance, as no one attended the meeting to speak on the issue. The question of allowing chickens in the city was first raised by Council Member Todd Smith, who said he had constituents approach him and ask that the code be changed to allow chickens. At previous council meetings, Police Chief Mike Broadhead reported that, to his knowledge, his department had never received a complaint about chickens.
In previous meetings, Christensen recalled that there was a rooster somewhere in her neighborhood, because she could hear it. Mayor Warpness said he voted against the ordinance because he felt chickens should not be allowed city wide, especially not in neighborhoods with a Residential A designation. Smith, and his constituents, however, live in a Residential A zone. After the vote, the Mayor said he was comfortable with the council’s action, according to Weaver.
