Chicken Ordinance Fails 4-1

In a heavily attended city council meeting the night of Monday, Aug. 20, the City Council rejected a measure to allow the keeping of backyard chickens in city limits by a vote of four to one, with Stan Ozark casting the only vote in favor.

The meeting was attended by dozens of Glasgow and surrounding area residents who provided comments for the better part of an hour followed by questions and then comment by the council members who then cast their vote.The architect and momentum behind the initiative, Madelyn House, spoke first offering up her research into the matter and pushing back on concerns from the community about disease or animal complaints.

The opposition began with vocal opponent Shirley Siefert, who challenged the idea citing the birds’ role as a carrier of diseases. From there, countless others spoke either in favor of or against the ordinance. Those in favor cited arguments as varied as teaching children where food comes from and helping mental health patients. Those against demonstrated the already failed efforts to enforce ordinances in the city such as weedy lots and cat and dog ordinances. They also cited property value concerns and the possibilities of nuisance neighbors.

Amy Wood told the crowd that she was in support of allowing the chickens commenting, “A lot of people are getting worked up about fears, I don’t want to be afraid of everything that could happen.” Others echoed this sentiment, while one participant at the meeting described Glasgow as the, “City of No,” lamenting how every effort to change something is met with heavy opposition.

Hinsdale resident and teacher Patti Armbrister touted her support saying, “From an education standpoint I think a family has the right to teach their children where their food comes from.”

One participant got up in opposition to allowing chickens showing photographs demonstrating the various ordinances around the city that were not being properly enforced and asserting her belief that this ordinance would be no different.

Just before voting took place House answered questions about the ordinance with the crowd at one point erupting with shouts and assertions. This drew a rebuke from Councilman Stan Ozark and seemed to sway him to vote in favor of the ordinance in solidarity with House’s efforts to be involved in the system and make positive change for the community.

Councilman Rod Karst pushed back on supporting the decision citing comments he had received from residents outside the meeting, “I’ve got to be honest, I’ve had more calls, comments, and letters from more than the number of people here even saying, not just no, but hell no.”

The vote completed with Karst, Dan Carr, Butch Heitman and Doug Nistler voting in opposition and Ozark voting in favor. When asked how she felt about the meeting’s result, House held her composure and said, “I’m disappointed but we’ll keep pushing forward.”

Despite failing to pass the city council it is still possible for the ordinance to be put on the 2019 ballot. According to Stacey Amundson, the council can vote to have a referendum on the ordinance but she clarified that due to the cost effectiveness of waiting until the city’s normal election that vote would not occur until November of 2019. The other option is for the ordinance supporters to gain a petition to force a referendum on the 2019 ballot, according to Montana Code Annotated 7-5-132.