Palos Hills is now restricting the number of chickens single-family homeowners can have in their backyards, mandating how they should be kept and banning roosters.
Each homeowner can have no more than four chickens on their lot. While hens can be maintained, roosters cannot under the ordinance approved recently by the City Council.
Chickens must be kept in an enclosed pen, coop or other structure that protects them against predators and keeps them from escaping. Chicken structures must be kept at least 25 feet from any residence and cleaned at least once a week. Chicken feed must be kept in a secure, rodent-proof container.
Homeowners must also register their chickens with the city. Current owners will have 60 days to comply. Residents now with more than four chickens can keep the birds as long as they are registered but cannot replace them once they die.
The vote to approve the ordinance was 9-1, with only Ald. Marty Kleefisch, 1st Ward, dissenting. Kleefisch said previously he thought chickens can become a nuisance.
There was little discussion before the vote, other than a few chicken jokes. Ald. Joan Knox, 1st Ward, thanked City Attorney George Pappas for writing a thorough ordinance.
“Actually, I had a lot of fun doing it,” Pappas said.
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Also during the meeting, Pappas told the council he had reviewed the legality of their vote approving video-gaming cafes. After reviewing Robert’s Rules of Order, talking to the Legal Department of the Illinois Municipal League and doing legal research, Pappas said he thought the vote was valid and enforceable, though there were several technical and procedural violations.
The council will discuss the decision at an upcoming meeting and decide whether to rescind the ordinance and vote again, or let it stand.
In other action, the council applauded Ald. Ricky Moore, 4th Ward, for being honored as Master Teacher of the Year at Moraine Valley Community College. Moore is an associate professor and project coordinator for the college’s Information Technology Program. The award is for best practices, innovation, outstanding performance and contribution to the college. Moore has worked full time for the college since 2001.
“Ricky, you shocked the community,” Mayor Jerry Bennett said jokingly.
Bennett also told the council the city still needs two crossing guards to work weekdays, 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon, near North Palos School District 117. The pay rate is $19.23 per hour.
The Police Department also is looking for three part-time community service officers. That job pays $17.80 per hour. Both jobs are posted on the city’s website: http://bit.ly/1Od0JtE.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.