WIND POINT — After the Village of Caledonia earlier this year loosened its chicken ordinance to allow hen keeping on residential property, the neighboring Village of Wind Point has decided to not set the same egg-spectations.
An item on the June 9 Village Board meeting agenda stated “Discussion and possible action for a village chicken ordinance,” however, after discussion, it was decided no action would be taken.
Graziano
“It was kind of determined that that probably wasn’t the best,” Village Administrator and Clerk-Treasurer Brian Graziano told The Journal Times. “It just wasn’t necessary to have an ordinance for chickens.”
A faded interest
In Caledonia, people living on zoned residential property four acres or less in size may keep up to five hens. The approval came in March with an unanimous vote after much discussion between residents and the village throughout the past two decades or so. A push to get Caledonia to change its previous code in 2016 failed.
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Hen keeping is allowed in Racine and Mount Pleasant as well.
However, in Wind Point, chicken keeping has not piqued much interest. Staff at the Wind Point Village Office, 215 E. Four Mile Road, reported three calls regarding chickens within the last few years.
“Caledonia still has a lot of farmland. We don’t. We’re very much suburban,” Graziano said. “People haven’t been beating down our doors wanting to get any changes made.”
In order to keep chickens or farm animals in Wind Point, acreage does not matter, but residents must have a zoned agricultural property. There are only three parcels in the 1.27-square-mile village zoned as such.
Meissner
Village Trustee Marty Meissner brought the topic before the Village Board. He said he asked a few residents prior to the meeting about potentially having a chicken keeping ordinance.
Board members discovered that to have chickens in the village, it would involve the Wind Point Police Department, an initial $80 charge and a $30 charge every year after, plus the Architectural Review Board and the Plan Commission would have to review plans for chicken coops.
“It would just take too many man hours to keep chickens out here,” Meissner said, noting the $80 fee could buy a “heck of a lot of eggs” instead.
“The interest faded away,” he said. “There would have to be all sorts of paperwork. I don’t even know what that would’ve cost … It’s too much for the village to do. It’s something that would be a horrific problem instead of a fun ordeal.”
Photos: Animals, food, games and more at the 2021 Racine County Fair in Yorkville
Whitney Holler of Raymond takes her cow to auction at Racine County Fair
Whitney Holler of Raymond leads her prize cow into the arena Saturday for the livestock auction at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Heather Ross makes lemonade at vendor stand at Racine County Fair
Heather Ross mixes a lemonade for a customer at the Candy Sweets vendor stand Saturday at the Racine County Fair in Yorkville.
Scott Williams
Emily Augustyn of Bristol enjoys corn on the cob at the Racine County Fair
Emily Augustyn of Bristol bites into an ear of corn Saturday at the Racine County Fair, which was to conclude its five-day run on Sunday.
Scott Williams
Champion rabbit rests in cage at Racine County Fair
A rabbit belonging to Rachel Kalbas rests in its cage alongside other rabbits Saturday after winning Best In Show during the Racine County Fair in Yorkville.
Scott Williams
Michelle Muzia and granddaughter Cecilia Venegas on carousel at Racine County Fair
Cecelia Venegas, left, 3, and her grandmother, Michelle Muzia of Caledonia, share a ride on the carousel Saturday at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Riley Storm-Voltz leads his cow into auction arena at Racine County Fair
Riley Storm-Voltz of Franksville waits in line Saturday outside the auction arena to guide his cow inside for bidders to examine during the livestock auction at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Mariana Bautista rides mini-tractor at Racine County Fair
Mariana Bautista, 9, of Kenosha, takes her turn on a miniature tractor Saturday at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Cactus on display in flower competition at Racine County Fair
A cactus is on display as part of the photography and flower exhibition Saturday at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Margaret Metzen sweeps poultry barn at Racine County Fair
Margaret Metzen of Raymond uses a broom to keep things tidy inside the poultry barn at the Racine County Fair in Yorkville.
Scott Williams
Family enjoys picnic in the grass at the Racine County Fair
Enjoying a lunch of corn dogs and cheese curds, Josh Hiser of Kenosha, from left, finds a shady spot in the grass Saturday at the Racine County Fair with his daughter, Adilyn, 4, and son, Jacob, 8.
Scott Williams
Sophia Matuszek of Raymond brings her cow into Racine County Fair livestock auction
Sophia Matuszek of Raymond brings her cow into the arena Saturday for the livestock auction at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
John Mathews of Eagle works speed pitch game at Racine County Fair
John Mathews of Eagle waits for his next customer at the Speed Pitch game Saturday during the Racine County Fair in Yorkville.
Scott Williams
Aiden Brink of Waterford with his champion bantam chicken at Racine County Fair
Aiden Brink of Waterford on Saturday holds his bantam chicken, which won the best of its breed, during the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Emma Siemers of Waterford brings her cow into Racine County Fair auction
Emma Siemers of Waterford leads her cow into the auction arena at the 2021 Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Livestock auction at Racine County Fair with auctioneer Gary Finley
Auctioneer Gary Finley, foreground in hat, leads the action Saturday before a packed house as competitors show off their prize cows, hogs and other animals during the livestock auction at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Lennox and Xander Christensen in covered wagon at Racine County Fair
Lennox Christensen, 1, and her brother Xander Christensen, 4, of Dover, are riding in style in a covered wagon Saturday at the Racine County Fair in Yorkville.
Scott Williams
Jack Grider of Bristol tries fishing game at the Racine County Fair
Jack Grider, 6, of Bristol, tries his hand at a fishing game in 2021 at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Nathan Rehberg of Burlington guides his cow into the Racine County Fair auction arena
Nathan Rehberg of Burlington shown during a livestock auction at the 2021 Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Sophia Matuszek pauses with her cow at the Racine County Fair livestock auction
Sophia Matuszek of Raymond pauses with her cow while waiting her turn in the auction arena Saturday at the Racine County Fair livestock auction.
Scott Williams
Ilana McCormick, 2, of Racine, rides a pony at the Racine County Fair
Ilana McCormick, 2, of Racine, smiles while riding a pony on the guided pony ride Saturday at the Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
Kids on carnival ride at the Racine County Fair
Thrill-seekers prepare for a spin around the Edge carnival ride at the 2021 Racine County Fair.
Scott Williams
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