Winder Council Delays Final Vote on Domestic Fowl Ordinance

The Winder City Council again remained non-vocal on an ordinance that would allow residents to keep domestic fowl on their properties and also voted to delay the final vote until next month.

Council member David Maynard moved to waive the second reading of the ordinance, so the issue will be brought back up at June’s meeting.

“We’re not knocking nobody out of chickens are we?” he said.

There was no answer and the council unanimously moved to revisit the issue next month.

If the revisions to the official city's Code of Ordinances are made, they would allow that domestic fowl may be owned in areas zoned Agriculture-1 and Agriculture-2. The change would only affect property owners who own five or more acres.

The remainder of the meeting was as follows:

6 p.m. — The meeting is called to order with all board members accounted for.

6:02 p.m. — It’s announced that budget hearings will be held May 16 and May 19. Both meetings will be held at 5 p.m. at the . The budget will be available at City Hall on May 16 and on the city’s Web site.

6:08 p.m. — The police report is given by Chief Dennis Dorsey. He thanked Lt. Rob Curott and staff for working through a campaign for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which raises money for the Special Olympics. This past weekend, participants raised more than $1,300 toward it.

Additionally, Dorsey recognized Lt. Frank Farr, whose last day on the job was Tuesday.

Farr started his career with the DeKalb County Sherriff’s Office then went on to Oconee County, where he served for six years. He came to Barrow County in 1993. Just two years later he was named officer of the year. He was promoted to corporal in 1996, sergeant of D-shift in 1997, promoted to Lieutenant in 2003 and in 2009 he was accepted to the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College where he received his criminal justice degree. Other accommodations include the Safe Driver Award and the Life-Saving Award, and his grandfather was part of the very first graduating class of the Georgia State Patrol.

“I hate to see him go, and I’m sure you guys do too,” Dorsey said. “We’re losing a very valuable member of our service today.”

6:13 p.m. — The fire report is given citing 199 visitors , 20 burn permits,  142 calls — 99 of which were rescue — and 24 customer service acts. The average response time for the month was four minutes and four seconds.

6:15 p.m. — One resident spoke during the allotted citizen input time. She spoke on behalf of her husband regarding added fees to paying bills online with credit cards.

6:16 p.m. — Voting items are discussed and approved. Among them:

• A bid approval for the Jackson Street demolition — $14,978
• A bid approval for the utility relocations at State Route 211 — $161,242
• A beer permit by the package for the Kangaroo at 93 E. May St.

6:26 p.m. — It was decided that businesses may now sell alcohol until 1:55 a.m. Monday through Saturday, effective immediately.

“We’re trying to bring state and local (ordinances) together,” council member Bob Dixon said.  

6:29 p.m. — A zoning matter was approved for a conditional use permit allowing a child care/day care facility to be located at 88 McNeal Road. The property is .51 of an acre and is zoned B-1 Neighborhood Commercial.

6:34 p.m. — With no further business, the meeting is adjourned and the board room clears.