Thursday night, the Peachtree City Council will consider changing its rules to allow a Peachtree City woman’s request to raise a small flock of chickens in her backyard.

Council will also hear the request of a Peachtree City man who wants to drive his gas-powered, off-road utility vehicle on the cart path system.

Oksana McGettigan, who lives at 309 Sandalin Lane in the Windalier Ridge subdivision off Lake Kedron, was cited by the city’s code enforcement department for violating the city ordinance against the keeping of live poultry — three or four hens. The citation came after a complaint from a neighbor who lives behind her home, according to a memo from code enforcement.

McGettigan outlined the benefits of raising chickens in a letter to the city.

“Chickens provide fresh eggs for the family and friends, nitrogen-rich compostables and weed and bug control for private gardens and landscapes, as well as a most economical way of dealing with food waste for the family and community landfill,” McGettigan wrote. “Raising chicks with children is a meaningful educational activity that may prove to become lifesaving for the future generation.”

McGettigan may have a hard time convincing council to give her forgiveness on the matter, since the code enforcement memo indicates that she admitted she had previously called the city to ask for the policy on raising chickens and roosters.

Thomas E. Taylor wants to drive his Kawasaki Mule on the city’s cart path system, but city staff has indicated it isn’t allowed under current ordinance though Taylor somehow was able to convince a city employee to mistakenly give him a golf cart decal for the vehicle, according to city Administrative Services Director Jane Miller.

City staff later informed Taylor he would have to give the decals back because the Mule and similar utility vehicles aren’t allowed on the path system. He said he wanted to take the matter to council instead, according to a city memo.

Prior to being issued the decals, Taylor had been told by another city employee that his Mule could not be used on the cart path, Miller indicated in her memo to council.

Though they can be configured in different ways, most Kawasaki Mules have two seats in the front and a flat bed in the back. Some come in four-wheel drive and in this case Taylor’s vehicle can reach speeds up to 25 mph, according to city staff. Taylor contends it can be restricted to 12 mph in a low-speed setting.

The city allows “low-speed motor vehicles” similar to golf carts that can reach that speed though they must be used at a lower speed that tops out at 20 mph, although regular golf carts are considered those which go 20 mph and slower.

Low-speed motor vehicles have safety features such as seat belts, turn signals and brake lights similar to a regular automobile. So does Taylor’s Mule, he said in a letter to the city. Taylor’s vehicle also has four-wheel drum brakes unlike most golf carts which have just two brakes, he noted.

Over the years, the city has been cautious about what vehicles are allowed on the cart path because of the delicate mix of various types of pedestrians who also use the path, including runners, joggers and walkers and also those on bikes and roller skates.

Taylor noted that six-passenger golf carts weigh more than his Mule, and it has a steel roll bar to protect both people in case of a rollover.

“True, it does not fit neatly into any one category since it is some of each but that is one of its great features,” Taylor wrote.