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recently, I was awakened (as i often am) by the cockophony (pun intended) of the multitude of roosters residing in the cemetery, and wondered what could be done about it. it is essential to keep the numbers of chickens in the cemetery as low as possible (or better yet, nil) because i think it is from there that they spill out into the surrounding streets. you may recall that a number of years ago the city hired the guy who ran a clip joint on fleming street (the old town barber shop) to catch them, but in the end all he wanted to do was sell t-shirts online.

so i wrote to commissioner lopez with a suggestion:

commissioner

i live right next to the cemetery on grinnell st (on the 5 brothers side), and i am painfully aware of how many more chickens there are in the cemetery now than ever before. (to be honest, everyone i talk with feels that there are way more chickens throughout old town than ever, and i agree.)

i have a suggestion/request: could catching chickens in the cemetery be a part of the sexton's job? he and his assistants could get traps from the wildlife rescue center (next to the bocce courts near higgs beach), bait them and catch the chickens. the wildlife rescue center would gladly receive the trapped chickens and transport them to the mainland as they get the minimum number to justify the trip.

i know the tourists love the chickens, but for the most part we residents don't; yet again, the tourists come first and we residents get the short end of the stick.

i'd love to hear your opinion on this idea.

thanks,

rob sprogell

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[the commissioner's reply]

Mr. Sprogell,

I have nothing to add, as my opinion is EXACTLY the same as yours. I am including the City Manager in on my response to your email as a directive for action. I think your suggestion is a good one. For the benefit of the Sexton and his staff, I want to be clear that I am not asking them to engage in running around after or collecting chickens. However, your traps idea is an excellent one. Let's see how it works!

Thanks for your suggestion!

Clayton

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i believe that it would be helpful if others contacted commissioner lopez (and jimmy weekly, too) and asked that this plan be implemented. if you don't already know, their email addresses are as follows:

clopez@keywestcity.com

jweekley@keywestcity.com

thanks for any encouragement FSNA members can provide to these commissioners,

rob sprogell