City discussing allowance of bee hives and chickens in city limits
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
The city of Elkhorn Legislative and Regulatory Committee took time last Thursday to discuss the city’s stance on the allowance of beekeeping and chickens within city limits.
The topic of beekeeping was brought forth to the committee after a complaint was brought to the zoning administrator and city clerk regarding a resident having a bee hive in their yard, according to a memo from City Clerk Cairie Virrueta. Upon further review, it was discovered nowhere in city ordinances are honeybees and hives addressed directly.
Alderman Bruce Lechner said while he doesn’t necessarily have a problem with allowing beekeeping in the city limits, he does feel there should be restrictions on where they should be allowed.
Alderman Hoss Rehberg said after looking at information on urban beekeeping in the Fox Valley and the city limits, he thinks it’s something that would be pretty difficult in a lot of situations in the city. While he admits in the right situation it could be done, he’s concerned whether or not people are going to do it right and it then becomes another thing for the police department to enforce.
Elkhorn Police Chief Joel Christensen said he doesn’t necessarily have an opposition to it, so long as it’s in the right zoning areas, though he doesn’t feel all zoning districts would be appropriate and it would likely need to be limited to certain areas of the community.
Looking at a sample ordinance provided by Virrueta, Rehberg said some restrictions would make it difficult for most properties in the city.
Christensen said if the committee was to go forward with allowing beekeeping, it’s something that they might want to limit to residential areas and more specifically, owner-occupied residences.
Matheson Memorial Library Director Lisa Selje noted a beekeeping program held at the library this past spring, which had a surprisingly large turnout from community members.
“They really were promoting it because bees are endangered,” she said about the presentation from members of the Walworth County Beekeepers Club. “It’s a big issue with pollinating and there’s not enough bees and they’re dying everywhere.”
Selje said while many of the attendees are from rural residents, she thinks there would be a lot of interest in beekeeping with community members, something Lechner agreed with.
Christensen said if the committee was to allow this, it might be a wise idea to only permit it with approval through the committee, allowing those meeting requirements set forth by the city to meet with elected officials for approval.
Christensen suggested taking a harder look at the issue, possibly even inviting the Walworth County Beekeeper’s Club to provide the committee with more information on the topic, something which committee members agreed would be the best approach at this time.
City chickens
When it comes to keeping chickens within city limits, raising poultry is already prohibited in the city with the exception of agricultural zoning districts.
However, Virrueta said the city receives multiple calls regarding whether or not it’s allowed within the city. As a result, Zoning Administrator Bonnie Schaeffer asked the topic be revisited.
Lechner said just like bees, he’s OK with the idea as long as it’s done right. Rehberg on the other hand, had other sentiments.
“I’m opposed to the chickens,” he said.
“I come from a farm background and we had chickens on the farm and that’s just my personal opinion … getting to monitor it right I guess is my concern with waste, manure, those kinds of things,” he continued.
Rehberg also noted there’s other things to be concerned about, such as dogs which could get ahold of neighboring chickens causing disputes between residents which would be one more thing on the police department’s plate.
The two alderman agreed Monday night the topic needed further investigation and more discussion prior to anything being sent forward to the full council regarding the keeping of chickens in city limits.
