City of Decorah and rooster owner will square off in court

The City of Decorah and a Decorah resident will square off in Small Claims Court next month in a case involving crowing roosters.

A November 18th court date has been set for a hearing on the complaint filed by the city against Ralph Van Fossen of 806 Linden Street.  The complaint accuses Van Fossen of owning "one or more roosters that crow, disrupting the peace and good order of the community."

A complaint filed by next door neighbors of Van Fossen's includes a log documenting the dates and times of rooster crowing, as well as dates and times the rooster and chickens trespassed on the neighbor's property.

Van Fossen says he has been keeping the rooster in his basement until 7:30 each morning.  His attorney sent a settlement offer to the City of Decorah, but that offer was declined and the issue will go to Small Claims Court.