SUBLETTE – Last month, chickens were addressed at the Sublette Village Board meeting as Lee County mentioned they may change the county’s residential zoning ordinance to include residents to house chickens in their yards.

Sublette Village President John Stenzel voiced opposition in March and was joined by the majority of the board.

At the April 8 Sublette meeting held at the Ellice Dinges Center, Stenzel discussed attending the Lee County zoning hearing held on April 1 in Dixon.

“Lee County had a zoning meeting to consider adding wording to R2 zoning, which is basically residential, mainly communities or subdivisions, allowing chickens,” Stenzel said. “I was in attendance as well as one board member, the village clerk, and a resident from Sublette. There were presidents from other communities and rural area residents that are zoned R2, but don’t really have neighbors.

“The concern I have, which was shared by most of the people there, is the notice was in the Dixon newspaper and not everyone knew. I’ve had four people in the last 20 years ask about chickens. They’re not allowed in Sublette because of the zoning.

“At the meeting I said, ‘It doesn’t make sense to change the village ordinance of Sublette for four residents when there are 185 residents in town that didn’t know anything about this.

“It would be different if everyone would take care of chickens, dogs, cats, and other animals. If everyone could be good neighbors, it would be different. But not everyone is a good neighbor and not everyone takes care of the animals. We have issues with dogs and cats as it is.”

Lee County tabled the chicken agenda as it is going to look at lot sizes, the number of proposed chickens, setbacks such as 15 feet from the line for a fence and coop. Also, it was suggested chickens would not be allowed in front or side yards, only backyards.

Stenzel and others were concerned with regulations and who would be the enforcer.

“At the zoning hearing I asked, ‘If passed and the village makes their own ordinance, can it override the county?’ I was told no and the only way it could is if Sublette had its own zoning. They would be the enforcers.”

Different suggestions were made at the hearing in Dixon for fees or disciplinary action including a $5 a day penalty for ordinance violations or a $500 a day fee to add severity of not following the county ordinance.

A committee meeting was held Thursday, April 4 to go over the proposed 2024-25 village budget as all trustees are involved in what it contains.

Other meetings and events scheduled to take place in Sublette are the fiscal yearend meeting (Monday, April 29), Cruise Night (4-7 p.m. Saturday, May 18), and Memorial Day Service (11 a.m. Monday, May 27 at the Ellice Dinges Center).

The next Village of Sublette Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 13.