BEREA —
Berea residents can now apply to keep chickens without having to worry that dissenting neighbors can prevent their being granted a permit.
The city council amended an ordinance Tuesday making it easier to keep chickens on residential property.
Before the ordinance was amended, neighbors of those housing chickens on their property could file complaints with the city’s board of adjustments to have their permits denied or revoked.
The amended ordinance is “replacing the board of adjustments with approval by the (Berea) codes department as part of the process of evaluating the applications,” said Berea Mayor Steve Connelly.
The passage was unanimous.
City Attorney J.T. Gilbert gave the first reading of the ordinance at the council’s June 19 meeting, stating it would allow the keeping of up to six hens (but no roosters) on residential property with a permit issued by the city’s codes enforcement office.
Among applicant requirements are the names, addresses and contact information for all adjacent property owners and/or occupiers, the number of chickens to be harbored. It also provides that “The office of code enforcement shall review the application and inspect the property to be permitted, and shall issue a permit to harbor, maintain and keep....”
The city’s codes enforcement department has a right to inspect the property “upon reasonable suspicion that any code violations are occurring,” the ordinance reads.
Codes personnel also may issue notices of violation to the property owners by certified mail “to remedy non-compliance within 30 days from the date of the inspection,” the ordinance states. “Upon failure to do so, the permit shall be revoked in writing by the Office of Code Enforcement.”
The permitting fee remains $35.
Utility rates to increase on bills due Sept. 10
Council members were given an executive order increasing rates for Berea Municipal Utilities customers. Customers falling in the “Class 1 Residential” category will see a service charge increase from $14.30 to $20.
Class 2 Commercial — from $16.01 to $24
Class 3 Large Commercial — $20.02 to $37
Class 4 Industrial and Large Commercial — $102.38 to $125
The utility rate structure “requires a revenue stabilization adjustment for water and electric rates for the purpose of providing for the difference between Berea’s budgeted cost of service and projected revenues for the new fiscal year 2012-13,” according to the ordinance.
For a complete list of rate changes (service charges, energy charges, demand charges and other costs), call Berea Municipal Utilities at 986-4391.
Series of resolutions passed to begin two sewer projects
The council adopted several resolutions related to two upcoming pump station/sewer projects. They outline all grant funding for the projects, assure that all cost overruns will be the burden of the city and that the city will adhere to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
The Bluegrass Area Development District assisted the city in getting $892,000 in grant funding to replace the Walnut Meadow Creek Pump Station and the Terrill Branch sewer extension.
The Walnut Meadow Creek Pump Station was converted from a wet well in 1969 and has been held together by wires and “temporary fixes” since then, according to the ordinance approving the grant application.
The pump station serves 1,512 Berea households.
The projects are being funded by a Community Development Block Grant ($692,000) and the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority ($200,000).
In addition to the pump station repairs, wastewater services for homes along Terrill Branch need to be extended.
The sewer line extension will eliminate more than 20 septic systems and reduce contamination in Terrill Branch.
In other business:
• The council an agreement with Berea College “to establish the terms and conditions by which either the city or college may request aid assistance from the other party in responding to a natural or man-made disaster to which either party is not otherwise legally obligated to respond.”
“We appreciate Berea College working with us,” Stone said. “This will be a good opportunity for us in times of emergency.”
• Aaron Boiken, Cody Shepherd and Christopher Neal were hired as police officers. These three hires will bring the police department to full staff, according to BPD Capt. Ken Clark.
The next meeting of the Berea City Council is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at the Berea Police and Municipal Building on Chestnut Street.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
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