Residents in the Village of Palisade now have the option to raise chickens in town after a vote at last week’s village board meeting on Wednesday, March 8.
    The board’s vote was split with three members—Brian Monahan, Brock Malcolm and Shane Gerhartz—voting for and two—Reid Ott and Jason Hicks—voting against the ordinance.
    The idea of an ordinance allowing chickens within city limits was first discussed at the February village board meeting. At the meeting Skylar Sutherland made the official request stating his family wished to have chickens on their property.
    Sutherland gave several reasons for having chickens: 4-H projects for their children,  responsibility for kids, eggs, keep bugs down, compost for gardens and garbage. He said they would not have roosters to keep noise level down. He also said the chickens would not be slaughtered.
    Palisade village board members discussed the request at length at last month’s meeting. Last week they revisited the issue again after doing research into what other communities have for chicken ordinances.
 

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