Committee looks to further investigate possibility of allowing beekeeping in the city
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
The City of Elkhorn Legislative and Regulatory Committee continued discussion regarding an ordinance that would allow and regulate beekeeping within city limits at its meeting last Thursday.
Looking at several drafts of ordinances from other municipalities in Wisconsin, Alderman Greg Huss said while the sample ordinance provided looks decent, he doesn’t feel the ordinance is detailed enough at this time.
“It seems very vague,” he said.
After doing quite a bit of research, Chairman Hoss Rehberg said the provided ordinance definitely won’t work. Additionally, looking at Wauwatosa’s ordinance on beekeeping, he thinks there’s several key things he thinks would need to be in the city’s ordinance if it were to allow beekeeping such as only allowing two colonies.
Rehberg noted in the City of Whitewater’s ordinance, it states if there’s a problem with bees, either the property owner or a City of Whitewater employee would have to take care of it, something he just didn’t agree with.
Rehberg also said he would like to see in the Elkhorn’s draft ordinance that bee hives would have to be set back at least 10-feet from the property line.
Rehberg additionally noted that in a draft ordinance for the City of Elkhorn he would like to see that the written approval of neighbors would be required when a permit is submitted by a property owner looking to start a bee colony. Neighbors would include abutting, adjacent and abutting properties.
Alderman Bruce Lechner asked what would happen if the neighbors approved of a property owner putting a bee colony and later found out they were allergic.
Rehberg said if that would happen, the person would have to submit written documentation from a doctor, proving they’re allergic to honey bees and the property owner would have to remove the bees at that point.
Rehberg suggested that if the rest of the committee were comfortable, he would pass along his suggestions to City Clerk Cairie Virrueta so that City Attorney Ward Phillips could put together a draft ordinance for the City of Elkhorn.
At a prior meeting in October, Rehberg had said in looking at information on urban beekeeping, he thinks it’s something that would be pretty difficult for most residents in the city.
Matheson Memorial Library Director Lisa Selje said at the October meeting that the Walworth County Beekeepers Club has been promoting urban beekeeping because the bees are endangered, something that’s causing issues with pollinating. Selje said at that time, she feels there would be a lot of interest in beekeeping in the community.
Police Chief Joel Christensen said at the time while he’s not necessarily against it, it would likely need to be limited to certain zoning areas in the community, likely owner-occupied properties. He also suggested it only be allowed by permit, approved by the committee.
The committee will further discuss the topic in an upcoming meeting after an ordinance has been drafted.
