Proposal For Hens To Roost At WHS Draws Questions
WARSAW — During its Wednesday, June 1, meeting, the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission received two letters from two passionate Wawasee High School students, hoping to see the inclusion of laying hens to the school’s agriculture programming.
The hens would be kept year-round outside in coops and would allow students, who live in residential areas where chickens aren’t allowed, to rent chickens and learn how to care for them.
Matt Sandy, assistant county planner, told the APC they could allow an accessory use to the school, which would allow for the hens.
While all of the APC enjoyed the educational value, they had additional questions and concerns.
“They’ll need good planning,” Kevin McSherry of the APC said, adding a swap meet led to the whole state being locked down due to avian influenza and Canada closing itself off to Indiana poultry.
In addition to the potential of disease, the APC wanted to know more about what would be done with waste, the exact number of birds that would be on site, the potential of the program expanding to middle school students in Wawasee Community Schools, what oversight there will be, among others.
Robert Sanders of the APC added he’d like to see the planned curriculum and the program’s best practices.
Bob Conley of the APC also suggested Wawasee High School might also bring one of the many area veterinarians on board as a consulting member to address potential health issues with the hens.
Several members of the APC expressed the desire to have the agriculture instructor, Joan Harden, overseeing the hens to attend the July meeting along with the two students. Commission members reiterated while they are excited about the education aspect, they have concerns.
In other area planning commission news:
• The APC recommended the Shipley vacation, which will vacate an unusable road between neighboring homes in the Barbee area off CR 750E.
• The APC moved the following: Firstly, lot 31, the 40-acres parcel east of the Crestview subdivision, Warsaw, and the .15-acres parcel, which is the southern part of the platted drainage basin, shall be sold as one parcel and combined by deed restriction so as not to be sold separate. Secondly, no disturbance, including but not limited to filling, excavating or altering the defined drainage basin, shall occur without attempting to replat the area. In doing so, proper engineering data will have to be provided supporting the requested alterations.
Thirdly, a turnaround must be installed at the terminus of the western stub road to the specification of the Kosciusko County Highway Department. Fourthly, the 9.5-acre parcel may remain as it is without further platting; however, prior to any development or improvement of said property, the owner at said time would be required to complete the plat in some form.
Next Kosciusko Area Planning Commission meeting will be at 1 p.m. July 6.