BE Council says no to bees

BLUE EARTH-- Another clash about the birds and the bees had the Blue Earth City Council abuzz on Monday.

When conducting a second reading of Ordinance 22-14 to amend the city's definition of farm animals, the council voted to let the ordinance die on a narrow 4-3 decision.

The contentious ordinance would have defined bees and chickens as separate from farm animals, and excluded them from the city's general ban upon keeping farm animals within city limits.

In such a scenario, residents would have been able to submit a permit application to keep chickens or bees. The applications would have been approved on an individual basis by the council.

The council, in fact, has already approved several residents to keep chickens within city limits this summer, a decision at odds with the current, unamended ordinance.

As such, city attorney David Frundt noted, "If you vote this down, it would be my recommendation that you also advise me to draft an appeal ordinance of the bee ordinance in its entirety, and the chicken ordinance."

Councilmember John Huisman moved to accept Ordinance 22-14. However, his motion failed 4-3, with Russ Erichsrud, Marty Cassem, Ann Hanna and mayor Rick Scholtes voting in opposition.

When the motion failed, Scholtes said, "My thought would be to do a full repeal of the chickens and bees (ordinances)." 

Hanna made a motion directing Frundt to draft repeals of the ordinances which currently define bees and chickens as separate from farm animals. Hanna's motion narrowly passed 4-3, with Huisman, Wendy Cole and Dan Ristau voting in opposition.

Frundt clarified residents who have already been approved to keep chickens should be allowed to do so lawfully until their year-long permits have expired.

"But when it is time for them to renew their permit, they would have to get rid of them,"  Frundt added.

In other business, the Blue Earth City Council:

-- Conducted final assessment hearings for the 10th and Nicollet Street Improvement Project and the Walnut and Hood Street Improvement Project. The projects cost a total of $5,355,000.

-- Voted to adopt Resolution 22-19 and Resolution 22-2 approving $897,349.04 to be assessed against owners of properties benefitting from the 10th, Nicollet, Walnut and Hood Street improvements. The assessments may be paid in full by Nov. 1, or paid via property tax assessment over the next 15 years at a 3.49 percent interest rate.

-- Scheduled a hearing on Aug. 15 to address city code violations at 517 East Sixth Street in Blue Earth.

-- Extended the city's contract with Kato Roofing for another two years.

-- Approved a lot split and variance request from Joe Comes, who wishes to divide the lot where Blue Earth's Pizza Hut is located on Domes Drive. The council also waived the plat requirement for the property in question.

-- Approved Resolution 22-21 appointing election judges for the upcoming primary and general elections.