Chicken Week: The Hoopla

Yesterday, I was completely overwhelmed with the hoopla of what we have to do

to acquire our "special use" chicken permit now that the ordinance has been *approved.*

Today, I am MAD.  Really mad. It takes about one day for me to get over

the emotion of it all and for my blood to boil.

Let me detail for you all the steps necessary:

#1) file for permit at county land use building

#2) mail file to 8 local agencies by certified mail (about $3-$5 per mailing)

#3) return certified slips to county office

#4) notify my 10 adjoining neighbors by certified mail ($3-$5 per mailing)

#5) pay $675 fee for permit issue

#6) pay $100 to run an add in newspaper for a hearing

#7) pay $100 to post a county sign in my front yard announcing the hearing (SERIOUSLY?!)

(this gets refunded if the sign is returned undamaged, but I still have to have the money upfront,

and who knows if my neighbor might damage it)

#8) attend two hearings for review in which

anybody can come to protest even if they don't live by us

(as if we had a flippin' tiger in the backyard)

and we get to listen to anyone or any anti-chicken person drag us through the mud even though

the county *won't disclose* who reported our chickens (but we know who it was)

#9) committee then decides if they will issue the permit

#10) if denied, nothing is refunded.

THAT IS DISGUSTING.

Don't make ANYONE go through a process like this, take their money, but then deny them.

This is why I am so mad at government today.

And you know what, I don't want to hear that there are rules everywhere you go...

WE ARE TALKING PRIVATE PROPERTY.

I am confident we can acquire a permit at a hearing

because no matter what anyone says of us, our property is in order and maintained,

but it is still too much money they are asking of families

who want an eco-friendly and educational experience for their children.

This is not a commercial enterprise, this is for personal use.

If I were erecting a GAS STATION, an ADULT THEATRE, or MOTEL

which might attract questionable characters to my community

I would have to go through the same process.

There are several municipalities in Illinois that are nearby and

do not require a permit for chickens at all.

They include:

Chicago, IL

Plainfield, IL

Batavia, IL St. Charles, IL

Oak Park, IL 

Mount Prospect , IL

to name a few.

They just ask that the coops be humane and no roosters be onsite.  TOTALLY FAIR.

So I say the county should WAIVE IT ALTOGETHER.

We have made the decision to attend the next Land Use Committee meeting in August

to continue to address these excessive fees before we pay any money down.

Some county board members DO AGREE this is too much for families.  Thank you for your support,

I hope you will continue to stand by that.

Others feel everything *comes at a price.*

(is this a shared and rehearsed quote among my elected county officials?

Because I called all of you.  You know what I feel about that?  Some people don't

count the cost, they do it because it is the right thing to do.)

AND THIS PRICE IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY!

There is discussion that they may lower the fee, or reclassify it to something other than "special use,"

but nothing is promised and nothing is ever done quickly.

We still hope to have the girls back by October.

We will certainly do the hearing process if nothing gets changed.

Thank you to my readers for your support.