On the Backyard Chickens of Lehigh Acres Facebook page, they are celebrating, “Whoa! We finally and for sure got it passed by the Lehigh Acres Community Council, The Chicken proposal is going to the Lee County Board of Commissioners! Frank Mann Commissioner from District 5 was there and heard the vote!”
Lehigh Community Council meeting on Aug 15, 2016 where Commissioner Frank Mann was in attendance, the council voted to support a Backyard hen proposal prepared by several council members and private citizens. Their vote passed at an overwhelming majority of 14 to 2 in favor. Even the president on the Lehigh Community Council, Rick Angilickis, who formerly was opposed to the proposal, voted in favor of the backyard hen proposal going to the commissioners as well as several other members that were once opposed!
The Backyard Chickens group has said on their Facebook page that they are gathering support from all other areas of unincorporated Lee county as well!
The letter from the Lehigh Acres Community Council has not reach Chairman Frank Mann as of Thursday. According to the new President of the Lehigh Acres Community Council Rick Anglickis it may take another week before the letter is released.
“I think it is absolutely ridiculous that we have to petition to have chickens to feed ourselves on our own property, but they (Lee County Commissioners) can spend $500,000 to put a traffic circle in on Beth Stacy Blvd, and Frank Mann told me at the “meeting” for the circle that and I quote, “half a million dollars, that’s nothing honey!” Not only was I offended he called a constituent “honey” but that he thought spending half a million dollars was chump change. Having laying hens in our backyards, doesn’t cost them anything, but loss revenue when they fine those of us that have them illegally! I call BS Frank Mann, vote him out, his time has come!”, said Jane a disgruntled Lehigh Acres resident.
The Backyard Chickens group is currently posting the following everywhere:
What we need now is to convince the other Lee county commissioners to get on board with this issue. Please email all of the commissioners! Especially Commissioner Kiker who is up for re-election. The following is their email addresses.
Dist1@leegov.com John Manning
Dist2@leegov.com Cecil Pendergrass
Dist3@leegov.com Larry Kiker
Dist4@leegov.com. Brian Hamman
Dist5@leegov.com Frank Mann