Lehigh woman vows to keep fighting backyard chickens
Ruth Ann Anglickis
While there may be jubilation by backyard chicken supporters, at least on the Facebook page of the Backyard Chickens of Lehigh Acres, one local resident said she is not giving up on keeping the chickens out.
The Lehigh Acres Community Council recently voted in favor of sending a letter to Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann in support of allowing the backyard chickens.
But not so fast, said Ruth Ann Anglickis, a Landex Corp. executive whose husband sits on the community council’s board.
She has started an email campaign that begins with, “To whom it may concern (and I hope you are concerned).”
Not only has Anglickis emailed local Realtors and residents, she wants people to agree with her that backyards are not the proper place to raise chickens for eggs.
“You can go to the local supermarkets and buy fresh eggs,” she said. “If they want chickens, they could consider moving to a rural area. Some of the people involved used to live on a farm, and perhaps they might consider moving back.”
Her emails are also directed to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. She calls it to their attention to take a look at the chicken supporters’ Facebook page.
“And, if you are not involved in Develop Lee, please go to the website for Lee County Economic Development and get involved in helping to bring our community into the City of Tomorrow that it is meant to be,” Anglickis continues. “Click on the site, Develop Lehigh Acres.”
She urges in her email that the emphasis should be to develop Lehigh’s proposed five Activity Centers, widen Homestead Road and state Route 82, and more.
“Our emphasis and the emphasis of the BOCC and LCED is to bring more commercial enterprise to Lehigh, not just dollar stores and gasoline stations. Our emphasis is to list all of the property that is available to develop in Lehigh Acres and invite developers to invest in our future,” Anglickis wrote.
She urged the commission to make the right decisions as to what is in the best interest of keeping Lee County beautiful.
“You have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars creating activity centers for Lehigh’s growth. You have a new Lee County Economic Development program – Develop Lee – that is working on growing our area, both residentially and commercially,” Anglickis said.
“Having chickens is not part of Develop Lehigh. Why? Because what is next – pigs, goats and other barnyard animals?” she asked.
Anglickis said Backyard Chickens of Lehigh Acres is a small group trying to change an ordinance for unincorporated Lee.
“They in no way represent the hundreds of thousands of residents who enjoy living in Lee County. This group doesn’t care about what others think, only what they want to accomplish,” she said.
Anglickis noted that Lehigh is now home to more than 100,000 people, according to government census surveys. Many of whom are not even aware of the group.
“Other unincorporated areas of Lee County are an additional hundreds of thousands more who are not aware of this plight,” she said.
In her email, Anglickis implores readers to not allow chickens for many reasons such as: controlling the putting up of coups, chicken waste, disease, putting up more fences to keep chickens in, free range chickens wandering the neighborhood and more.
“If people want fresh eggs, they can find them at many fresh markets in Lee County. They can even find them at Publix and Winn Dixie,” she said.
Anglickis said it is not the group’s right to take away her right of trying to preserve residential neighborhoods.
Her husband, Rick Anglickis, previously opposed the proposal. But in the council’s most recent vote, he voted in favor of it.
Mann was also at the recent meeting, as were a large group who support backyard chickens.
He is waiting for the letter from the council showing support, which he will pass on to the entire board of commissioners.
Lehigh woman vows to keep fighting backyard chickens
Ruth Ann Anglickis
While there may be jubilation by backyard chicken supporters, at least on the Facebook page of the Backyard Chickens of Lehigh Acres, one local resident said she is not giving up on keeping the chickens out.
The Lehigh Acres Community Council recently voted in favor of sending a letter to Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann in support of allowing the backyard chickens.
But not so fast, said Ruth Ann Anglickis, a Landex Corp. executive whose husband sits on the community council’s board.
She has started an email campaign that begins with, “To whom it may concern (and I hope you are concerned).”
Not only has Anglickis emailed local Realtors and residents, she wants people to agree with her that backyards are not the proper place to raise chickens for eggs.
“You can go to the local supermarkets and buy fresh eggs,” she said. “If they want chickens, they could consider moving to a rural area. Some of the people involved used to live on a farm, and perhaps they might consider moving back.”
Her emails are also directed to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. She calls it to their attention to take a look at the chicken supporters’ Facebook page.
“And, if you are not involved in Develop Lee, please go to the website for Lee County Economic Development and get involved in helping to bring our community into the City of Tomorrow that it is meant to be,” Anglickis continues. “Click on the site, Develop Lehigh Acres.”
She urges in her email that the emphasis should be to develop Lehigh’s proposed five Activity Centers, widen Homestead Road and state Route 82, and more.
“Our emphasis and the emphasis of the BOCC and LCED is to bring more commercial enterprise to Lehigh, not just dollar stores and gasoline stations. Our emphasis is to list all of the property that is available to develop in Lehigh Acres and invite developers to invest in our future,” Anglickis wrote.
She urged the commission to make the right decisions as to what is in the best interest of keeping Lee County beautiful.
“You have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars creating activity centers for Lehigh’s growth. You have a new Lee County Economic Development program – Develop Lee – that is working on growing our area, both residentially and commercially,” Anglickis said.
“Having chickens is not part of Develop Lehigh. Why? Because what is next – pigs, goats and other barnyard animals?” she asked.
Anglickis said Backyard Chickens of Lehigh Acres is a small group trying to change an ordinance for unincorporated Lee.
“They in no way represent the hundreds of thousands of residents who enjoy living in Lee County. This group doesn’t care about what others think, only what they want to accomplish,” she said.
Anglickis noted that Lehigh is now home to more than 100,000 people, according to government census surveys. Many of whom are not even aware of the group.
“Other unincorporated areas of Lee County are an additional hundreds of thousands more who are not aware of this plight,” she said.
In her email, Anglickis implores readers to not allow chickens for many reasons such as: controlling the putting up of coups, chicken waste, disease, putting up more fences to keep chickens in, free range chickens wandering the neighborhood and more.
“If people want fresh eggs, they can find them at many fresh markets in Lee County. They can even find them at Publix and Winn Dixie,” she said.
Anglickis said it is not the group’s right to take away her right of trying to preserve residential neighborhoods.
Her husband, Rick Anglickis, previously opposed the proposal. But in the council’s most recent vote, he voted in favor of it.
Mann was also at the recent meeting, as were a large group who support backyard chickens.
He is waiting for the letter from the council showing support, which he will pass on to the entire board of commissioners.
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