At a special Pierceton Town Council meeting on Monday, April 24, are, from left: Pierceton Woods Academy representatives Matt Trier and Bob Jones; and Town Council President Matt Brubaker and Vice President Janet Castle. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — Pierceton has continued its discussion on allowing chickens at Pierceton Woods Academy to Tuesday, May 9.

The council agreed to that date at a special meeting on Monday, April 24, at the Pierceton Community Building.

Though Monday’s meeting was open to the public, no one aside from the press, town leaders and Pierceton Woods representatives attended it.

By discussing the issue at the May meeting, the council wants to give the public the ability to weigh in and also to realize that chickens would only be limited to Pierceton Woods if the council decides to support the matter. The May 9 meeting will also allow Town Council Member Tom Barker to be present.

Any decision the council makes though will ultimately be recommended to the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals, which will have the final say. As Pierceton falls under the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, the BZA has jurisdiction over granting Pierceton Woods a variance for the fowl.

The May 9 meeting will be a regular session, replacing the council’s original meeting date of Monday, May 8. It will start at 6:30 p.m. at the community building.

At the April 24 meeting, Town Council President Matt Brubaker and Vice President Janet Castle talked with Bob Jones, Matt Trier and Tommy Boggs from Pierceton Woods. The three men brought some sample rules for PWA to abide by when keeping chickens.

PWA’s suggestion was to allow up to 100 birds, but Brubaker said he’d prefer more around 25 if the council gives a positive recommendation.

Castle voiced concerns of allowing an exception to Pierceton’s ban on chickens and other farm animals and regarding PWA having “self-enforcement.”

Trier noted any coops would be completely enclosed and “under lock.” Jones noted the Department of Child Services monitors PWA, thus giving some outside oversight.

Jones added PWA had spoken with Milford veterinarian Dr. Tom Smith about getting any chickens vaccinated and plans to work with him on any other issues.

Pierceton Police Chief Jim Bumbaugh also weighed in, noting he was concerned other people would assume they could keep chickens as well if PWA got an exception. He said he and other officers with Pierceton Police Department don’t have time to enforce rules on the birds, and Pierceton needs to strongly clarify that the general public won’t be allowed to have chickens.

At the meeting, it was brought up that a Pierceton day care is now seeking to have chickens.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a $7,085 quote from Super Seal for fixing parking lots around the community building, senior center, police station and utilities department.