Chickens and U-turns discussed at Huntingburg Council meeting

The Huntingburg Common Council discussed making U-turns illegal and chickens legal in the city at Tuesday’s meeting.

A brief discussion on U-turns was prompted by a recommendation from the Huntinburg Board of Works and Safety to make U-turns illegal on several city streets. U-turns are currently prohibited within intersections, and the board wanted to add language to prohibit them on Fourth Street between Geiger and Jackson Streets.

However, that recommendation was upped by Police Chief Art Parks when he suggested the city consider prohibiting them throughout the city.

The council directed City Attorney Phil Schneider to draft an updated ordinance for consideration but, before doing so, questioned enforcement issues and what types of turns would be allowed — three-point turns, for example.

Schneider clarified that a U-turn is a turn that is continuous and travels into an opposing lane for the purpose of reversing the vehicle’s direction.

Mayor Steve Schwinghamer stated a comprehensive ban would make it easier to enforce an ordinance prohibiting them. He noted that the reasoning wasn’t to create more opportunities for officers to fine drivers; it was more about safety.

Councilman Tim Wehr said he felt it was a good idea based on maintaining safety in the city.

Councilman Steve McPherron said he would like to see a draft of the ordinance and allow public comment before deciding whether to prohibit U-turns on city streets.

“I’d like more time to look into it,” he said.

In regards to a potential poultry ordinance, Councilman Wehr presented the council with a set of requirements he and the “chicken committee” had created.

Discussions on allowing chickens in the city limits began in January as egg prices inflated due to a variety of issues — bird flu, increased consumer demand and increased costs associated with manufacturing processes.

While egg prices are back to normal, the chicken committee completed its due diligence to present its recommendations for the ordinance. This was driven by the fact that though they are not currently allowed, there are residents raising chickens within city limits. A council decision on an ordinance will either allow them to remain or give the city recourse to have them removed.

According to Wehr, the recommendations cover many facets of keeping chickens on properties while considering the impact on neighbors and the city departments that will enforce the ordinance. He told the council the committee had reviewed ordinances covering chickens from towns and cities throughout Indiana and Kentucky to formulate their recommendation. This included Jasper, Ferdinand, Indianapolis (Marion County), Evansville, Valparaiso, Kirkland and Louisville.

Wehr ran through the recommendations that included the following:

-Up to six chickens would only be allowed on single-family owner-occupied homes on three-quarter acre lots. Chickens would not be allowed on smaller lots, however, larger lots could have more than six chickens. This wasn’t specified in the discussion, but Wehr pointed out that the reason for six chickens is that Rural King and other dealers recommend individuals wishing to raise chickens should buy them six at a time.

-No roosters will be allowed

-A single chicken coop or chicken run is allowed per property. Chickens are required to be kept in the secured coop or in a fully fenced-in chicken run unless the owner is present.

-The committee advised the ordinance should include building standards for coops to ensure they are safe and secure. They recommended metal or shingle roofs and limited the height to no more than eight feet. Coop minimum size is 100 square, and the coop must have at least six square feet per chicken (six chickens equals 36 square feet of coop space but still a minimum 100 square feet size).

-The coop shall be maintained in sanitary conditions free of offensive odors, and owners must dispose of waste materials off-site. No waste accumulation and storage on site will be allowed.

-Coops will have setbacks from property lines.

-Chickens cannot be kept in carports, attached garages or residences.

-Chickens kept must be for noncommercial use and cannot be sold nor their eggs sold.

-No butchering allowed on the property.

-An application/permit would cost $25, and in addition, an annual fee would be required so the city can maintain a list of known coops.

-Wehr stated a permit for a chicken coop would stipulate that code enforcement could inspect the chicken coop at any time without notice.

-Violations would begin with a potential $25 fine, a second notice would be a $50 fine and a third, $100. At this point, the permit could be revoked.

-There was a suggestion that lots with less than three-quarters of an acre but at least a half acre could receive a waiver if neighbors were okay with the coop.

The council will review a draft ordinance at the July 28th meeting and begin the process of considering it for adoption at that time. The meeting is held in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 5:30 p.m.

— The council also approved beginning the process of creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in certain areas near Fourth Street. Under legislation that went into effect on July 1, cities can designate certain areas of the city that are exempt from some of the state’s open container laws. This would be to allow someone to attend an event at Market Street Park, like the Garden Gate Jazz Fest, and then walk into a business on Fourth Street with their drink.