Approval clears the way for girl’s 4-H project
By Gail Peckler-Dziki
Correspondent
Twin Lakes Trustee Sharon Bower was the only nay-sayer to the request from Steve and Brenda Wierzbicki for permission to raise about 10 hens for their daughter Alessandra’s 4-H project.
President Howard Skinner and Village Trustees Aaron Karow, Tom Connolly, Kevin Fitzgerald and Barbara Andres all said yes to the motion to allow at the March 16 regular board meeting. Trustee Jeremy Knoll was absent.
This is the third year that Alessandra has raised chickens in the backyard of the family home, located on Anna Drive. One of the main reasons Bower said no was because she thought that allowing this project and these chickens was “opening up a can of worms.”
“We are not set up to have those kinds of animals living in the village,” she said.
Skinner again explained that the Twin Lakes ordinance was set up to review and decide on a case-by-case basis.
The village received three letters from adjoining property owners. Two were in disagreement with the project and one stated that Mr. and Mrs. Dale Schneider had no objections to Alessandra’s project.
Most adjoining property owners are across the channel or across the road. Don and Pat Nelson live next door and the chicken coop is tucked between their garage and the Wierzbicki garage.
Don Nelson spoke at the meeting and said that the animals never made much noise and there was no smell and they had no objection to the project.
Prior to the vote, Skinner commented that he would rather see Alessandra raising chickens and thought it was a good project for her.
Steve Wierzbkicki said his wife made a joint purchase of 25 chicks with another family.
“This way,” he said, “we are guaranteed only hens, so there will be no crowing.”
Steve also pointed out that while Alessandra would start out with 10 chicks, they often lost a few so there would probably be only six to eight for Alessandra to raise.
“They will all be shown at the fair and sold at the fair,” he said. “None will come back home in August.”
Commission changes
Rebeca Lois has resigned from the Park Commission and Lisa Wallerich has been appointed.
Jonathan Kaplan has resigned from the Housing Committee. No one has been appointed.
There is a vacancy on the Plan Commission. Applications are available for interested Twin Lakes residents on the village website, www.twinlakeswi.net. Copies are also available at Village Hall, 108 East Main Street.