OLDS — If council OKs the raising of chickens in the town this year, those wanting to do so will still have to obtain a licence, but won’t have to pay a fee for one until next year.
Michael Merritt, the town's chief administrative officer, and community services director Doug Wagstaff made that plain during town council’s March 22 meeting.
They were responding to a query from Coun. Heather Ryan.
Ryan noted that during previous discussion on urban chickens, council was told that licence fees would be waived for the remainder of this year. A rates bylaw outlining fees for the raising of chickens is expected to come up for discussion in September.
“I’m thinking that seems a little bit weird today, because if we have people who want to get a licence this spring, what are we going to charge,” Ryan asked.
Merritt said that was his understanding – that fees would be waived this year and come into effect in 2022, after the rates bylaw comes up for discussion and revision in September.
Wagstaff noted that’s the way things went previously when the town introduced licensing for cats.
Coun. Mary Jane Harper also wanted assurance that people will still have to obtain licences if they want to begin raising chickens in town this year -- fee or no fee.
“That is correct," Merritt said.
