Chickens may soon be calling Sturgis home

STURGIS – Among the list of items attended to in Wednesday's nearly three-hour city commission organizational meeting was the second reading and approval of the city ordinance allowing urban chickens in Sturgis' city limits.

The final details on ordinance language and associated permit fees, as well as violation costs, were approved after extended discussion, bringing to an end more than a decade of bringing the process to fruition. A proposal on the Nov. 5 general election ballot allowing chickens in Sturgis was approved by voters, 1,906-1,552.

The city commission completed the first reading of the associated amendments on April 24,  and approved the language to be placed on the ballot as Sturgis City Code of Ordinances Section 10.65 – Urban Chickens.

The topic at a glance

The city commission turned down the idea of urban chickens, first in 2011 and then again in 2021. However, with new commissioners joining the table since 2021, and with the idea of resident sustainability being popular, the city agreed to re-examine the matter. The proposal was to allow the keeping of chickens in coops and in back yards within property line setback requirements.

The proposal for allowing up to six female chickens per residential property first went through the planning commission. The city received input from residents, mostly in favor of allowing backyard chickens. Support ranged from meat and egg sustainability to 4-H projects. Those in opposition addressed concerns about noise, smell and potential violations and enforcement.

While the planning commission was not in favor, the general consensus by city officials last year was to put the matter on the general election ballot for the residents to decide.

During discussion, Commissioner Cathi Abbs said she was concerned about the proposed fees as being "way too high." She said she looked at fee schedules for other municipalities and said that Sturgis is "way out of whack in comparison."

The proposed initial application fee going into Wednesday's meeting was $100, with a renewal permit fee $75. Additional inspection fee was proposed to be $50, and infractions for chickens running at large was $40 per bird.

City officials said there are elevated costs associated with the process of keeping chickens in the city limits, with the permit applications passing through four hands from start to finish.

Still, Abbs said, "something doesn't seem reasonable here."

Commissioner Marvin Smith, also concerned about the proposed fee structure, said the process could be easier and more cost-efficient. He said it would be more optimal to "just let people do their thing and address violations" as they come up.

Proposals during Wednesday's discussion including lowering the initial application fee to $25, and renewals set at $10, with higher infraction rates to compensate for any city-incurred expenses.

A final motion on adjusted fees and violation fines of $75 for an application fee, no renewal permit application fee, as well as $150 for a first violation, $300 for a second infraction and $500 for subsequent violations, was approved with Miller voting no.

The second reading of the ordinance was approved with minority dissent.

It is expected applications for permits will be accepted starting in January.

New vice mayor

The mayor of Sturgis was also reappointed by his peers Wednesday, and a new vice mayor was selected.

Frank Perez was appointed by his fellow commissioners to continue as mayor in a 6-3 vote. Current commissioner and former mayor Jeff Mullins was the other nominee put forth.

Rick Bir was seated as vice mayor, also in a 6-3 vote, replacing Aaron Miller in the position. The meeting, opened by city clerk Ken Rhodes until Perez was reappointed, also saw the swearing-in of its new elected commissioners. Dan Boring received 388 votes, Rodger Moyer 27 votes as a write-in, and Abbs had 631 votes in the general election.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Urban chicken ordinance finalized in Sturgis