After months of spirited discussion and divided opinions, the Delavan City Council has voted to allow backyard chickens within city limits—thanks to a tie-breaking vote cast by Mayor Adam White.

The vote, held Tuesday evening, ended in a 2–2 split. Aldermen Joshua Lusher and Brent Nafziger opposed the measure, while Aldermen Linda Slabaugh and Joe Watts voted in favor. With Aldermen Douglas Bury and Levi Birkey absent, Mayor White stepped in to break the tie, siding with supporters of the proposal.

“I reached out to several people and had an overwhelming amount of yes’s for it, and very few against,” White said, explaining his decision.

The vote marks the first step in a two-phase process. Phase one determined whether backyard chickens would be permitted at all. Phase two—set to be addressed at the next council meeting—will establish specific rules and regulations, including limits on flock size, coop standards, and sanitation requirements.

Public comment reflected the community’s divide. Longtime Delavan resident Steve Skinner urged the council to reject the proposal, citing his experience working on a chicken farm near Washington, Illinois, during his youth. He warned of the potential for odor and rodent infestations.

“The food that you give them will draw rodents and rats,” Skinner said. “I understand that you'll probably have some very strict ordinances,” he added with a wry smile, “but I don’t think rats will read an ordinance.”

Alderman Lusher echoed those concerns, referencing enforcement challenges and aesthetic worries raised by constituents. “I had one woman tell me, ‘You know, people don’t even mow their yards anymore—are we going to have to look at chicken coops in their yard?’” Lusher said. “When a majority of my ward says no, I can’t go along.”

Supporters also made their voices heard. Sheila Minner read aloud from an email she had sent to council members advocating for the measure. Resident Kelly Powell spoke in favor as well, despite noting she had no intention of raising chickens herself.

Alderman Slabaugh led the charge for passage, framing the issue as one of personal liberty. “I agree with Ms. Powell,” Slabaugh said. “I think there are civil liberties issues at hand—the right to do on your property what you want to.”

Alderman Joe Watts also voiced strong support for the initiative, citing both personal conviction and community feedback. “When I ran for Alderman, I was often asked about my stance on changing the chicken ordinance within city limits,” Watts shared in an email to the Dispatch. “My view has always been that people have the right to produce their own food. More importantly, I ran for office to be a voice for the people.”

Watts said he actively sought input from Ward 2 residents and the broader Delavan community, hearing from 106 individuals. Of those, 54 supported the ordinance, 48 expressed no strong preference, and only 4 were firmly opposed. “I deeply respect everyone's views and want to thank everyone who reached out to me and shared their feedback on this issue,” he added.

Throughout the process, the issue of backyard chickens received a fulsome and respectful debate, with voices from across the community weighing in—whether through public comment, council representation, or direct outreach. No matter where one stands on the matter, the deliberation itself stands as a testament to how local government should function: responsive, inclusive, and rooted in dialogue. It’s a moment of civic engagement that all Delavanites can take pride in.

As the city prepares to draft an ordinance with the finer details of how this approval will be executed, Delavan’s future appears poised to include a few more feathers—and perhaps a little more clucking.