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If they allow chickens in the city, they might attract snakes that would come for the eggs.

That and a declaration that chickens are “filthy birds” were among comments The Electric City Council heard Jan. 22.

Ken Doughty, who was against the city allowing chickens, said that he drove around his neighborhood on Sunset Drive and estimated that there could be 300-400 chickens there if they were permitted. He said that chickens could attract raccoons.

The issue is still before the planning commission and will be a subject at a February council meeting. The talk has been that the city will consider allowing up to six chickens, no roosters.

A resident on Sunset had chickens, but it wasn’t until his fence blew down that it became public knowledge. One councilmember last Tuesday said there were several residents in the city that had chickens, but didn’t name them.

The issue started with Lynda Dernik, who lives on Diamond, reading a prepared statement saying she was against chickens and was afraid that if they were allowed that snakes would come to eat their eggs.

She asked that the city not “pit me against my neighbors.” She stated that if her neighbors all had chickens, they would move the pens as far away from their houses as they could — and that would be back against her fence.

Chickens are “filthy birds,” she stated.

Gayle Hardin, who lives on Sunset Drive, echoed the same feeling about chickens.

Mayor Jerry Sands explained that the issue won’t come to council until sometime in February, and suggested that, to have chickens, residents would have to get a permit from the city.