By Jackie Seabolt
Enterprise Record

COOLEEMEE – Which comes first – the chicken or the egg?
Neither, if you live in Cooleemee.
Last week commissioners did away with the idea to allow backyard chickens after residents voiced their opposition and a petition against the idea was presented.
At the July 15 town meeting Cooleemee resident Hellen Daywalt told commissioners she felt allowing chickens would create more problems for the former mill town. “We live in the city and pay city taxes. We don’t want farm animals.”
Daywalt presented Mayor Lynn Rumley with a five page petition signed by more than 100 residents who opposed the idea.
“I don’t approve of chickens,” Judy Webb told commissioners. “I lived on a farm and I can tell you about the mess they make. You say they are going to keep things clean and only keep hens, but that’s not going to happen. Next we’ll have cows and pigs. If I want the farm I’ll move to the country.”
Tronia Gibson told commissioners she believed more thought should be put into the idea and pointed out Cooleemee’s promotion of the mill project, swimming pool renovation, and home sales …