13-year-old boy asks council to allow ownership of chickens in Dover

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·3 min read

DOVER ‒ A 13-year-old boy wants the city to once again allow residents to raise chickens in the community.

Trey Doll, whose family moved to Dover four months ago, presented City Council members this week with a detailed list of suggestions to allow the ownership of chickens in the city.

Action on chickens: Dover council bans keeping of chickens within city limits

In 2019, council amended an existing ordinance to add chickens and fowl to the list of animals prohibited in Dover. The city acted after officials received complaints about chickens in town.

Asked why he wanted the ordinance changed, Trey answered: "I had chickens at our old house, and I learned that Dover wasn't available for any chickens. So I decided that I was going to try and get them available for chickens."

A mixed flock of hens are shown in a chicken run, an enclosure designed to keep them contained and safe from predators. Some municipalities require chickens be kept contained.
A mixed flock of hens are shown in a chicken run, an enclosure designed to keep them contained and safe from predators. Some municipalities require chickens be kept contained.

More on chickens: Dover won’t change ordinance to allow woman to keep her chickens

His suggestions included:

  • A maximum of eight hens and two roosters over the age of 5 months would be allowed. Chickens younger than that would be allowed until they are sold or given to a consumer.

  • Chickens couldn't be raised in houses or garages and would have to be kept a minimum of 30 feet from any residence.

  • Chickens would have to be kept in enclosed shelters. The shelters would have to be kept clean and couldn't become an eyesore.

  • A permit would be required to own a chicken.

"You're on the right track," council President Justin Perkowski told him. "This is obviously well-researched."

The issue will be looked at by the law director and safety director, and a council committee will consider it in the future, Perkowski said.

The Associated Press has reported that the coronavirus pandemic spurred an increased interest in people setting up coops and raising their own chickens. Businesses that sell chicks, coops and other supplies also say they have seen a surge in demand.

Police cruiser struck by drunken driver

In other action, council:

  • Heard from Safety/Human Resources Director Gerry Mroczkowski that the Police Department has only three cruisers available for officers. Three others are not working. One was damaged by a tree falling on it during a storm. Another has engine problems. At 2:30 a.m. Sunday, a third cruiser was hit in the side by a vehicle driving by an uninsured drunken driver. The cruiser sustained more than $6,000 in damage. The officer was not injured.

  • Heard Mayor Shane Gunnoe report that he, Mroczkowski and Police Chief Paul Bantum met with state Sen. Al Landis, R-Dover, and representatives from Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital, the city of New Philadelphia and the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office to discuss the growing mental health needs in the county. The group will continue to meet in the future.

  • Heard Gunnoe report that city officials met with Hammondtree and Associates regarding a grant application for construction of a bridge to carry the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail across the Tuscarawas River in Dover.

  • Heard the mayor report that work has begun on a new paved walking path at Dover City Park. The path will run from Field No. 1 to the cul de sac at the back of the park. The work is being done by Tucson Inc. of New Philadelphia.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dover council asked to change rules to allow ownership of chickens