# Schoolcraft Village votes on chicken ordinance at Monday night council meeting
SCHOOLCRAFT, MI — The Village Council is holding a public hearing today on a draft ordinance that would allow residents to keep backyard chickens, a measure first requested by a local resident more than a year ago.
The hearing, originally scheduled for the September 8 council meeting, was postponed to Monday because two council members were absent, one on vacation and the other dealing with a death in the family, according to Village President Mike Rochholz. The council also has an empty seat following the June resignation of Trustee Kirk Bergland.
Although the council had a quorum in September, Rochholz said members wanted a fuller bench for the public hearing on the ordinance.
The council began considering the chicken ordinance in June 2025, when resident Errol Matthews made the request. Trustees spent the following year gathering feedback from residents, with several speaking in favor of the change at subsequent meetings.
In October 2025, the council approved sending the text amendment request to the Planning Commission to draft the ordinance, and the $500 fee for the text amendment process was paid at that time.
What the ordinance would allow
The proposed ordinance outlines standards for keeping chickens in the village. Roosters would not be permitted.
If approved, residents could keep up to eight chickens in their backyards, housed in a secured coop that provides a safe and healthy living space. The ordinance specifies the size of the coop and requires that chicken feed be stored in a way that keeps out rats and mice.
Residents who want to keep chickens would need to obtain a permit and pay a permit and inspection fee.
Related code amendment also on the agenda
Also postponed from the September meeting is a code amendment that would repeal any references in village ordinances that conflict with the new chicken rules. The council is expected to vote on that amendment at Monday's meeting as well.
Candidates forum sparks debate over Sunday timing
In other business, trustees responded to an invitation from Kim Parker, president of the Fourth of July Committee, for village council candidates to attend a question-and-answer forum on Sunday, October 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Schoolcraft High School cafeteria.
Several council members objected to the Sunday date, citing family time and church services. Trustee Kathy Mastenbrook wrote a letter outlining her Sunday commitments, including church services and care for her elderly parents, and questioned how the date and time were chosen and whether candidates would have advance access to the questions.
President Rochholz also said Sunday is reserved for family time. Trustee Joe Beck noted that residents could ask questions at regular council meetings.
Parker said the forum would be more open than a typical public comment period, where speakers are limited to three minutes.
"They don't feel comfortable at the meetings," Parker said.
Following the meeting, Parker said the candidate forum would likely be rescheduled.
Fire authority in good shape, trustee says
Reporting from the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority, Mastenbrook said the authority has been looking at purchasing property for a fire station, discussing long-term goals, and applying for grants.
After reviewing the four entities in the authority, the Village of Schoolcraft, Schoolcraft Township, Prairie Ronde Township, and the Village of Vicksburg, she said the authority is in good shape financially.