Junction City Commissioners have reached a 5-0 consensus not to allow a change in city code so chickens could be allowed in residential backyards.
There were requests from the public but commissioners expressed their opinions Tuesday night.
Commissioner Nate Butler said he had conversations with people on the subject and responses were mixed. "I'm not certain that we need to go down that road." Ronna Larson said she was not in favor, and had talked to animal shelter and blight department officials where there were concerns about the negative impact. "I don't feel like we need to pass it on."
While noting that he was not saying that there was not a good group of people that would take of them, Matthew Bea said he was more "worried about what happens if somebody does not take care of those chickens and the burden we are putting on our animal control people or blight people. " He also pointed out concerns about housing lots where the backyards are located close to one another.
Pat Landes said he had concerns about people considering moving to Junction City. "And they see what's going next door and they don't like that. They're going to go somewhere else." Jeff Underhill said consensus of the board is that they do not want staff to move forward with pursuing an ordinance allowing chickens.
Two members of the public spoke in favor of allowing the chickens during the public comment portion of the city commission meeting.