Cluck, Cluck Cooleemee May Allow Chickens

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 2, 2013

By Jackie Seabolt
Enterprise Record

COOLEEMEE – Commissioners are considering a change that would allow chickens to be kept at homes in the town.
Mayor Lynn Rumley, at last month’s meeting, said she’d been asked by two residents to look at changing the ordinance that bans farm animals in Cooleemee.
Rumley said the zoning change would call for allowing hens only being kept in back yard areas and that the number of fowl and clean-up requirements would also be addressed.
“If kept in a fenced lot with a decent coop, I wouldn’t mind them,” Commissioner Jean Snead said. “In fact, I might as soon have them as dogs.”
Commissioner Don Cover told the board: “I agree with no roosters, but I don’t think chickens are bad.”
Commissioner Tommy Daywalt reminded commissioners of a prior incident in the town where a resident who lived on the outskirts was made to get rid of more than 100 chickens. “She kept them in coops and took care of them in the back next to woods. I’m kind of wishy-washy on it. I’ve got mixed opinions right now.”
Daywalt mentioned a concern …