A process to make changes in the Rush County livestock ordinance, which originated following a building inspection a number of years ago in the northwestern part of the county, may be nearing an end.
Currently, the county livestock ordinance considers fowl, more specifically chickens, in the same light as swine, sheep, beef or horses, and in order to legally have livestock, they must be kept on rural zoned property consisting of at least 10 acres of land.
Raising chickens in the rural communities of Arlington, Falmouth, Gings, Manilla, Mays, New Salem and, more specifically Sexton, has been a hot topic for those positioned on both sides of the issue. Proponents for changing the current ordinance and remonstrators against the ordinance have attended previous public hearings to voice their opinions on the matter.
As previously reported in the Rushville Republican, those in favor of making changes to the current livestock ordinance contend that chickens provide food for the family and that, in many cases, area youth use poultry for 4-H projects as well as entries in the county fair and for those and other reasons poultry should not be bound by the same restrictions as other livestock which require other needs and more space.
Those against making changes cite odor and other issues as reasons to not make any changes in the current ordinance.
Earlier this year, a scorecard system was set in place locally as a means for county residents to qualify for a special exception within the county on zoning issues regarding livestock.
The fowl ordinance scorecard rates on: Lot size, number of chickens, chicken per acreage ratio, coop setback (from the nearest residential structure) and the type of enclosure. Another issue in the rating system is agricultural vs. non-agricultural and the number of roosters included and section density.
With the exception of Carthage and Rushville city residents, if the ordinance passes, chickens will be allowed in the communities of Arlington, Falmouth, Gings, Manilla, Mays, New Salem and Sexton, providing the petitioner meets the required number of points on the scorecard.
In the event those aforementioned points are met, neighbors to the petitioner will not be required to be notified. The most notable changes that will be discussed during Monday’s public hearing will center on penalties imposed to those not conforming to the ordinance as written. The public meeting will be held as a part of the county commissioner meeting that will begin at 9 a.m. Monday in the Assembly Room located on the lower level of the Rush County Court House.