EARLVILLE – In 2007, the Village of Earlville updated a local law that prohibited non-domestic animals within the village. One man, Michael Kicinski, has spent the six years that have followed battling village officials for what he believes is his right as a tax-paying citizen.

One of the determining factors that led Kicinski to move his family to Earlville in 2003 was that he would be allowed to enjoy the benefits of a small agricultural community and keep chickens and rabbits for his own families' consumption. From 2003 to 2007, the Kicinski's raised their poultry without incident; until 2007, when former village mayor Toni Campbell informed the family that their chickens had to vacate the village within 30 days.

A series of tickets for violating the village’s new law were issued by the only village official with enforcement capabilities: Earlville Code Enforcement Officer Matthew VanHeusen.

Kicinski was then charged, brought before the village court, found to be in violation of the new local and fined, despite having been granted a variance by a former mayor and village trustees.