A Bremen resident asked the Bremen Town Council members last week for permission to allow chickens on town properties.
Mike Clinger cited several cities that allow chickens in town including Indianapolis, South Bend, Terre Haute, and Bloomington. He commented that chickens make good pets and they serve as an educational purpose for children. They also could also produce a source of food for owners.
Director of Operations Trend Weldy said some residents already have chickens.
Town Attorney Anthony Wagner said Town of Lapaz officials are going through a similar issue as some residents already have chickens and roosters on properties. Wagner said he would not think allowing roosters would be ideal as several Lapaz neighbors have filed noise complaints where roosters are housed.
Wagner also said the town already has a strict animal ordinance. He will check with other communities the same size as Bremen to see similar ordinances to possibly incorporate those ideas for the Town of Bremen.
Preliminary discussions last week indicated that chickens would need to be caged or enclosed in some fashion and roosters would not be allowed. Wagner said the town would need to look at how problems could disrupt neighbors as an approach from the council’s standpoint.
Town Councilman Michael Leman suggested sending around a petition to see who in the community would support chickens in town limits. The council members could review that petition to see what the support would be from residents.
The issue will be brought up again in an upcoming Bremen Town Council meeting.
