(STURGIS) – The Sturgis City Commission received an update on a ballot initiative to allow chickens in the City limits.

During Wednesday’s meeting, City Attorney T.J. Reed shared that he has heard back from St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsey Oswald on the language that would appear on the ballot.

Reed says he has also received a summary that will be approved for the ballot. He has also received some clarification to make sure the next step for the City is correct. If everything moves forward as planned, Reed says the City would have a copy of the ballot language at the polling location for people to read before the vote.

At their February 14 meeting, the City Commission was presented with a proposed ordinance by Community Development Director Will Prichard. The proposed ordinance was crafted by the Sturgis Planning Commission which looked at several communities who allowed urban chickens and used their ordinances to craft the proposed ordinance for Sturgis.

The City Commission at that time agreed by consensus to move forward with crafting ballot language for the ordinance.