HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The topic of chickens was brought up at the Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday night, with the committee deciding to not move forward in creating an ordinance to allow residential chicken ownership.
“Alright, let’s talk chickens.” Lienberger said to the committee as she opened the discussion. In 1978, an ordinance was put in place preventing the ownership of chickens in residential areas within city limits of Hopkinsville. The ordinance was revisited by the city council in 1997, again in 2002, and most recently by Lienberger in 2023 and this past spring.
During the Aug. 22 meeting, Lienberger presented an example of an ordinance from another city what allows urban chicken ownership that detailed restrictions and policies that could apply for Hopkinsville. Specifically citing how they would limit it to 30 homeowners on a first come first serve basis, and also preventing the sale of eggs and slaughtering of chickens.
According to other council members and the mayor, common concerns of citizens include smell, noise, and chickens running lose around the city. COTW chairman Steve Keel also expressed concerns about what would happen to chickens if owners were found in violation of rules.
Council member Bruce Smiley was strongly against the idea, telling the committee he will always vote against chickens saying, “I don’t care what you say, they are going to smell. I don’t care how clean you keep it; it’s going to smell.”
The motion to draft an urban chicken ordinance for Hopkinsville that would come back to the committee was not approved 6-5. Voting no were Robert Meek, Steve Keel, Bruce Smiley, Chuck Crabtree, Amy Craig, and Travis Martin. Voting yes were Jaimie Leinberger, Jason Bell, Natasha Francis, Donald Marsh, and Doug Wilcox.
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