ETNA GREEN – Town council gave the 2013 budget a reading and public hearing during their meeting Tuesday.
The total advertised budget is $266,495. That includes $165,159 for the General Fund, $48,800 for Motor Vehicle Highway and $30,000 for Rainy Day.
Local Roads and Streets gets $10,900 in the budget, Parks and Recreation $7,100, and Capital Improvement $6,500. Council will adopt the budget at their Oct. 9 meeting.
Also Tuesday, council agreed to have town Attorney Jay Rigdon draft a resolution governing the ownership of chickens in residential backyards.
The regulation was suggested by Clerk-Treasurer Laura baker, who said she’s heard concerns from residents over the four homes that keep chickens. Only two of them keep the chickens in a coop, she said, and noted she received a complaint of a loose chicken going up to someone’s front door.
Councilmen agreed that confinement of chickens is important but could not agree on a number limit on chickens. They did agree that too many chickens would be a bad thing.
“I don’t think we want to amend the ordinance now – we’ll have chickens all over the place,” council Vice President Andrew Cook remarked.
Councilman Jim Robbins stated he is not in favor of allowing a commercial chicken grower in Etna Green, and so wanted to make ensure the regulation specifies chickens for personal use.
Councilmen also agreed to allow Jeff Hoffman, who runs the town junior football league, to fence off the football field for part of the year to allow grass to grow. Hoffman said he plans to smooth and seed the field and wanted to keep ATVs and other traffic off.
Council President Keith Claassen told Hoffman he appreciates that the junior league draws business to town, and Hoffman said he hopes to get more kids involved.
And council set a date for trick-or-treating on Halloween. The town trick-or-treat will be Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
