3rd Street chickens face eviction

by Mary Coblentz
Action taken Monday by the Wellman City Council, in a four to one vote, will send two chickens out of town – permanently. The chickens, which reside on 3rd Street in Wellman, were the source of a complaint by another 3rd Street resident.
City attorney Dan Kitchen told the council that a city ordinance states there is no poultry allowed unless the council gives permission. He said, “I’m not pro- or anti-chicken. The ordinance says no unless you say yes.”
The chickens, Daisy and Bertha, have been living at 609 3rd Street for approximately two years. No other complaints have been received.
The city received a letter, ostensively written by the chickens, seeking permission to stay. Another two letters in support of the chickens were also received.
Council member Bob Goodrich, after stating the issue was “silly,” said that he would have let the chickens stay had no one been at the meeting to protest.
Attending the meeting was Wilma Gingerich, the neighbor who filed the complaint about the chickens. She said, “They’re very noisy. And those pets aren’t in her house, either.”
Council member Marc Pennington urged the council to give the chickens’ owner some time to find a place for the chickens. “We don’t want her to dump them on the road,” he said.
Goodrich made a motion to deny the request for the chickens to stay, and council member Matt Latcham seconded the motion. Council member Steve Slabaugh voted no.
In other business, the council:
• approved a resolution to enter into a 28E agreement with the Mid-Prairie School District, allowing them to occupy the old senior dining center site. The district will pay the utilities, take care of sidewalk maintenance, and replace a door. The agreement is for one year and will automatically renew unless notice is given. City administrator Dave Ross said, “They understand the use (of the building) is subordinate to future library expansion;”
• approved a downtown business incentive grant for $2,500. The project proposed by Mike Miller is to replace the roof and put up a fence at 820 2nd Street. The estimated cost of the roof portion of the project is $6,995;
• set Tuesday, September 2, as the date for a public hearing on entering into a loan agreement not to exceed $30,000 for the purchase of a new skid loader for public works. Ross said that the skid loader would be paid for with the sale of the city’s street sweeper. An attachment can be put on the skid loader to sweep the streets. Ross said the city can “easily cover” the payments of the loan if, for some reason, the street sweeper doesn’t sell; and
• approved a resolution to enter into a contract with Utility Services Communications Company Inc. for management of water tower wireless antenna sites. John Snodgrass of Utility Services, explained that the company will act as an agent for the city, negotiating contracts with cellular or wireless companies, overseeing and inspecting the installation of antennas. The service will cost nothing if no one is found who wants to use the water tower. If a contract is negotiated, Utility Services takes 30 percent of the negotiated amount.