KANOPOLIS — The results of the chicken survey are in. A dozen residents gathered June 14 at the Kanopolis City Council meeting to discuss the next steps.

The non-binding vote was included in a recent water bill. Of the 68 responses, 42 surveys expressed support to permit chickens within the city limits of Kanopolis; 26 surveys included votes against the proposed ordinance.

The council decided to put the topic of chickens in town on the July agenda.

“Whatever side you’re on, you better let your friends know,” Mayor Anthony Hopkins said during the June 14 meeting. “Rally the troops, you better be here next month. I would like it to be the end or start of it next month.”

After next month’s meeting, the mayor said his goal is for the topic to either move forward to draft language for an ordinance, or that the discussion will conclude.

“If you don’t like the results or decision of the council, I suggest you put your name in the hat to run for an office,” he said. “Hardly anyone has run for city council.”

Resident Miranda Fleming spoke in favor of the ordinance.

“I know a lot of concerns have been with how it’s going to look,” she said. “I would encourage allowing chickens in town so we can help support ourselves.”

Hopkins said the request to allow chickens in town has been made on and off for several years.

“It was about a yearlong discussion,” he said. “I honestly hoped it wouldn’t come up for awhile. There was a lot of heartache and heartbreak and nastiness. I won’t go down that road again. I hope this time it’s a quicker resolution.” Elena Gonzalez, who

Elena Gonzalez, who recently returned to Kanopolis.

“I only lived 10 miles from the city. Believe it or not, every morning in the city of Chicago, I could hear a rooster crow right across the alley from me,” she said. “This is a town of 400 plus people and you can’t have chickens?”

The proposed ordinance prohibits roosters.

“I was actually born in Kanopolis,” Gonzalez said. “I remember my grandparents having chickens, cows, ducks, pigs. We lived right here on Iowa, within the city limits, right across the street from the depot.”

Former council member Darrell Ploutz spoke against the proposed ordinance.

“I think we’re better off leaving it the way it is,” he said. “It took a long time to get the ordinance taken off the books. I think leave well enough alone.

“Dave and Miranda (Fleming) would be great with the chickens, but another handful would just be slobs.” Several others spoke in

Several others spoke in support of no change to the current ordinance.

“We’ve been trying to get this town cleaned up,” Gerry Gebhardt said. “Some people worked really hard on it.”

Annette White expressed support for chickens in town.

“I would rather buy a chicken from my neighbor or trade eggs from my neighbor,” she said. “I live on a fixed income.”

White also encouraged the city council to explore the Farm to School program from the USDA.

“Schools raise their own garden to supplement school lunches,” she said. “They do it in Lawrence. They’re starting one in Ottawa. They have models for smaller communities.”

The council discussed the proposed ordinance.

“It’s a no-win situation, regardless of what this council decides to do, someone is sure to get mad,” Hopkins said. “We have to listen and hear from both sides and make the best judgment.

“I don’t think bringing chickens in could be the end of the world, but it could bring some problems.”

The mayor said the primary concerns he heard about chickens is dilapidated coops and enticing coyotes or other predators into town.

City clerk Debbie Kralik said the last U.S. Census population for Kanopolis was 443. She said she mailed more than 260 water bills, but some individuals own multiple properties.

Council member Tom Wilkinson said he understands some families like to raise their own food.

“I don’t like the (proposed ordinance),” he said. “There is no language about enforcement. There is a cost to enforcement, it takes away from other things in our budget.

“I’m not opposed or for either way, but what will sway my mind is the enforcement. A number of triggers must be met to give you the right to do so.”

He suggested annual inspections, as well as consent of neighbors.

“You gotta be neighbors, not just living next to each other, but getting along. Being a good neighbor is helping each other out. It has to be palatable for everybody.”

Council member Jim Zvolanek said it won’t be an overnight decision.

“There are a lot of things to iron out on what is acceptable to everybody in the town,” he said.

In other business, the city council:

• Discussed the water tower project. The council received two bids, but wanted clarification. During a special meeting June 20, the council approved a bid from Yost Electric for $6,050.87 for a pump on well No. 8.

• Heard updates about abatements. Demolition can move forward at 304 S. Colorado. The council unanimously approved to begin the abatement process for 420 S. Iowa.

• Received an updated quote from South Central Sealing & Paving.

“Because oil went up, they have a price increase,” Kralik said. The price increased

The price increased almost $5,000 for all of the streets approved during May’s meeting.

“They also said if you want to take some streets off and keep it the same price, you can do that,” she said.

“I thought once we approved it, we were locked into the pricing,” Hopkins said. “I guess we could take a street or two off. Maybe oil will go down before they get here in August.”

City employee Mike Bunch pointed out the city resurfaced half of its streets three years ago. • Received a request

• Received a request from H&B Communications Inc. to use city easements to run fiber.

Council Member Greg Tripp requested a representative attend a meeting and discuss the specifics of the project.

• Approved moving the dumpster from the city shop to the fire station.

• Discussed the city’s attorney. Hopkins said he would like to talk with Patrick Hoffman about options before making a final decision. Hoffman resigned from the Ellsworth firm. The city has the option to stay with Hoffman, or to go with attorney Melissa Miller, who has been overseeing the city’s legal needs.

• Approved a liquor license for the Fort Harker Committee.

• Discussed upcoming preparations for Fort Harker Days.

“We want the trees all around the park trimmed up, about seven foot, so you can walk underneath them,” Tripp said.

He also requested the volleyball nets be installed so teams can practice.

• Discussed the city’s tree dump.

“People are constantly dumping trash at the tree dump,” Bunch said. “We’ve got people from all over the county dumping stuff.”

The site is unlocked, and there is no oversight. In addition to branches, some individuals are disposing of construction material.

“I was told adamantly that there is to be no trash,” Bunch said. “If the state inspects and there’s other stuff in there, they’ll shut it down because we don’t have a landfill.”

A wood or vinyl sign will be created and posted to clarify the parameters for the site.