Orwell looks into allowing chickens in the village
May 23—ORWELL — Village council is looking into the possibility of allowing chickens to be housed in regulated coops within the village.
Orwell Council President Chris Ruks and councilman Jeremy Cottrell formed a committee with Tom DeSantos to review the possibilities regarding chickens being housed in the village.
Ruks said village residents have approached council about the idea of raising chickens so he decided to review the idea. He said a two-page proposal has been given to council, with further discussion likely at a June work session, followed by a public meeting to get village residents' response.
The proposal includes allowing for a maximum of six chickens on a parcel of land, with chicken coops constructed in the rear, or backyard, of a property. The proposal also includes a minimum 25-foot setback from the rear property line and a 20-foot setback from each side property line.
The proposal includes detailed instructions regarding the size of chicken coops, the amount of room needed for each chicken, and a stipulation that a chicken can not be slaughtered on site.
In other business:
—Council approved the purchase of a small piece of property from the Ashtabula County Land Bank for $500. Ruks said the use of the property has not been finalized.
—Council approved the engineering and grant requests through the Ohio Department of Transportation for a traffic signal project.
—Council agreed to accept a $7,765 Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Distribution Equipment grant.
—Council approved a two-year contract with Orwell Clerk of Council Finance Director Kimberly McKinley. She is scheduled to make $50,942 from May 27, 2024 to May 25, 2025 and receive a $1,500 raise for the following year.
