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Shelley City Council discusses chickens and water

SHELLEY — During last Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council discussed allowing chickens in city limits and boosting the city’s water pressure.

During the Nov. 11, Shelley City Council meeting, Jacqueline Wittwer, a local woman, urged the council to adopt an ordinance allowing chickens within the city.  

“Shelley is the only small community in the valley that doesn’t allow for chickens,” Wittwer said. “I am only requesting the city allow for caged, laying hens. No roosters.â€Â 

Mayor Stacy Pascoe said the council tabled the chicken matter several years ago. The only way for the council to discuss creating the ordinance was for them to un-table it.

Pascoe added that most rural subdivisions in the county prohibit raising chicks as part of the homeowner’s covenants.

Councilman Adam French said he is in favor of having chickens. However, councilwoman Kim Westergard said she knows many people who are against having chickens in the city.

French reminded the council about a survey, taken several years ago, showing 10 percent of residents were against chickens, 80 percent were indifferent and 10 percent wanted them. He concluded that most people in the city were not opposed to chickens.

Wittwer thanked the council for listening to her and said she would return to make the argument for chickens.

“This issue is not going to go away,” she said.

Wittwer also recommended the city to hire an animal control officer.  She asked Shelley Police Chief Rod Mohler how many calls he received each day for barking or lose dogs. 

“Many,†Mohler responded.

Chickens and animal control weren’t the only issues discussed during Tuesday’s meeting. Dave Noel, from Forsgren Engineering, updated the council on what it would take to boost the city’s water pressure.

Roughly a year and a half ago, on the butte east of town, the city completed installing an 800,000-gallon water tank. Upon finishing the project the city found they had $330,000 left over in the budget for water system improvements.

The council decided to explore using those funds to upgrade the cities water system, particularly for homes around Riverview Elementary school, by installing a pressure boosting system.

Noel said this booster system could not be installed because of an insufficient-sized water line between two of the city’s wells.  He explained upgrading the line to a 16-inch transit line would cost $824,000, far beyond the city’s $330,000, budget.

The council decided to close out the project and save the money for, either, future enlargement of the transit line or for other improvements to the water system. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jeff Kelley is a former Shelley City Councilman.

4 thoughts on “Shelley City Council discusses chickens and water

  • Laree

    WE NEED TO HAVE CHICKENS IN THIS UNCERTIAN TIMES!

    • Laree

      THESE

  • Cathy

    If I’m reading this correctly, 90% of Shelley residence would not complain if chickens were allowed.. and 10% are against…. Is this the tail wagging the dog?

  • Jackie

    I don’t live in the city anymore and I have chickens now. They are super stinky, sneaky things and would excape quite often. They pooped and roosted on my back porch, ruined my garden, as well as my neighbors. I am thankful that I have such understanding neighbors. I’ll tell you though, if I didn’t have hens and someone else’s pooped all over and ruined my garden, I would be livid.
    It’s nice to have fresh eggs all the time but to properly care for them is a lot of work. I could see people getting some and then kind of giving up on taking care of them. The Idaho falls animal shelter has chickens come through there all the time from irresponsible owners. I believe that’s why Shelley also limits how many dogs you can have without a kennel license.

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