City chickens

[Free Press Editor Joe Spear]

The debate at Mankato city council is already generating letters to the editor on the first day, mostly complaining the council voted down not the chicken issue, but even discussing the city chicken issue at a public hearing.
Here's the story link.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/local/local_story_040234144.html

[Bob Jentges]

I read it in the paper that was delivered (soaking wet from the rain) to my house this morning.

I guess I would take the approach some enviromentalists take to wind turbines i.e may be a good idea but not in my (or my neighbors) back yard.

It would be interesting to find out how many of those writing complaint letters to the editor have had any first hand experience raising chickens.

[Ben Willaert]

I am happy with this decision. Our country’s animal agriculture is moving towards bio-secure confinement operations. Having sporadic chickens throughout the city could pose a threat of spreading diseases like avian flu. I also fear urban chickens would be prone to abuse by owners and neighborhood kids.

[Dan Conner]

The debate at Mankato city council is already generating letters to the editor on the first day, mostly complaining the council voted down not the chicken issue, but even discussing the city chicken issue at a public hearing.
Here's the story link.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/local/local_story_040234144.html

Frankly, I think the issue is chickens%$#. I think there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed ahead of this. I have no strong feeling either way, but I don't think things have gotten bad enough in Mankato that people need to have chickens running around the city.

[Bob Jentges]

At least Dan, Ben & me agree on the critical issues like chickens in the back yard.

[Free Press Editor Joe Spear]

Indeed, a see a coalition forming!:)
As I think about this issue more, I am always concerned when a "public" body decides not to let the "public" have a hearing, especially since the city seemed to be soliciting opinions on the issue on its web site. At the same time, maybe the councilors were just not wasting city time and money with a hearing on an issue they knew was not going to go anywhere...I'm not sure you have to research and contemplate a lot of data to know if you are for or against chickens in the city. An unscientific Free Press poll showed a majority against the idea, I believe.

[Dan Conner]

Indeed, a see a coalition forming!:)
As I think about this issue more, I am always concerned when a "public" body decides not to let the "public" have a hearing, especially since the city seemed to be soliciting opinions on the issue on its web site. At the same time, maybe the councilors were just not wasting city time and money with a hearing on an issue they knew was not going to go anywhere...I'm not sure you have to research and contemplate a lot of data to know if you are for or against chickens in the city. An unscientific Free Press poll showed a majority against the idea, I believe.

That's affirmative from me.

[Free Press Editor Joe Spear]

Several readers have commented on this story, mostly taking council to task for not even having a hearing. You can see the comments by going to this link and scrolling to the bottom.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/storycomments/local_story_040234144.html?keyword=topstory

[Dan Conner]

Several readers have commented on this story, mostly taking council to task for not even having a hearing. You can see the comments by going to this link and scrolling to the bottom.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/storycomments/local_story_040234144.html?keyword=topstory

I read the newspaper story and tht's all of the attention I wish to give to this.

[Ellen Mrja]

I read the newspaper story and that's all of the attention I wish to give to this.

I'll only add this: If you want to raise farm animals, buy a farm. Period.

[Dan Conner]

I'll only add this: If you want to raise farm animals, buy a farm. Period.

Right on Ellen

[Ellen Mrja]

You know, Dan, I don't mean to sound so glib about this. But I believe having a neighbor who builds a chicken coop would lower anybody's property values. My husband's family had a multi-generational farm and I've learned from him that chickens can be disgusting fowl..especially when their "leavings" begin baking in the spring, summer and autumn months.

Would it be fair to my dog, who would be going nuts, to see and smell the chickens on a daily basis?

Last objection: Where would this end? Chickens OKd for in-city, then why not pigs so people can teach their kids where bacon comes from? Or goats? A cow? Heck, any of the animals on Old McDonald's Farm?