Teutopolis Board Rejects Chicken Project, Discusses Changing Heights for Accessory Buildings

Teutopolis village board members have voted to reject changing the ordinance that bans keeping chickens within the village limits.

The vote was 4-2 against changing the ordinance, and came following a presentation in November by Teutopolis school student Nolan Schumacher. Schumacher proposed being allowed to keep up to six hens so he could sell their eggs. The request was tabled at the time.

The Board again discussed changing the allowable height of accessory buildings. The proposal would keep the maximum height on a lot of less than two acres at 20 feet, on a lot of not less than two acres at a maximum of 28 feet, and on a lot of not less than five acres at 35 feet. An ordinance will be prepared and the matter is expected to come up for a vote.

Board members heard from Dan Borries, who is opposing a landfill being proposed along Illinois Route 33 just east of the existing Landfill 33 and just west of the Borries' land. Borries asked Board members to write letters to the Effingham County Board, opposing the project.

The village board also dealt with items related to the new village hall. Action on an evidence locker for the police department and on appliances were tabled while prices for the items are being gathered. The Board did vote to hire Magoo and Associates for managed IT services, and approved a proposal from GFI for a copier/printer for the commons area in the hall, and a separate copier/printer for the village clerk's office.

The Board also voted to authorize Village President Greg Hess to sign an agreement for $152,000 in Motor Fuel Tax dollars to help with the village's share of the cost of the Route 40/Main Street shoulder repair project.