After his mother misread the city ordinance against keeping chicken in an urban area, eleven year old Stefan Remund is working to get that Burnsville ordinance changed.
After presenting his arguments to the Burnsville City Council, Mayor Kautz called the family to let her know that they may keep the flock until the city decides whether or not to update the rules. She also let the Pioneer Press know that Burnsville’s City Council listens to everyone.
Now, I understand everyone’s issues with people keeping what are traditionally thought of as farm animals in a suburb like Burnsville but times are changing. All suburbs need to begin to rethink how the ordinances regarding growing your own food might need an update to bring it in line with getting back to the earth and raising your own food. Kautz said that the rule was originally placed on the books during the Avian Flu scare that dominated media outlets up until recently. According to a quote in the article, the CDC mentions that there is really no need to worry about the threat of Avian Flu in the US especially with regards to small flocks of chickens.
Even though the article states that Duluth’s Council Member Sharla Gardner, who wrote Duluth’s ordinance for raising chickens, that people sometimes worry about the smell and are less concerned after seeing a chicken coop in action I’d like to know what others here think. Are you ready to allow your neighbors to raise chickens (with or without roosters?) or would you prefer that they keep the law on the books as it is now?
In addition to the question above, I would like to know how you feel about Kautz’ statement that the Burnsville City Council “listens to everyone,” and whether or not you feel that this cute little article is a great platform for her to attempt to win the hearts of Burnsville residents during her hotly contested reelection campaign?
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September 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 am
I live in Burnsville, and there is a house on one of my walking routes that has chickens. I always wondered why they’re kept in the garage, instead of outside in the sunshine like they oughtta be. Guess they’re hiding from the law.
As for keeping farm animals in the ‘burbs, I’m all for it. I’d do it myself, if I thought I’d be able to make myself eat something that I watched grow up. Maybe I’ll get a dairy cow!
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:54 am
I live in White Bear Lake and I am not aware of the ordinances here concerning animals. I think that having a few chickens would be great. Roosters are another story. I was in Mexico a number of times during high school and it took a few days to get used to the rooster announcing the rising sun each morning. I’m not sure I would vote for that. Good question Bill.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 am
Andy, I didn’t do much digging but it would appear that you may keep chickens in WBL as long as they don’t run free (PDF warning).
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 am
What the article does not mention about the council’s ability to “listen” is that the boy who spoke was also subjected to Liz Workman’s giggling about the topic after his presentation (without any kind of rebuke from the mayor about Workman’s disrespectful attitude toward the young man, btw). Way to encourage young people to be involved in government and to respect their elders and governmental officials.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
To see what Vickie is referring to click here and then skip through to 9:40 (I believe the “giggling” begins around 9:47).
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I did commend Stefan on our way out of the council chambers together. I was the second Burnsville citizen to speak during the “Public Comment” portion of the council meeting. My topic was “outrage” concerning the destruction of a MnDot planted landscaped noise barrier, along Mn hiway 13 between 115th and 117 streets, by the city of Burnsville for a bike trail. With the addition of a bus transit lane, the removal of the noise barrier and now the ten foot wide bike trail our neighborhood is experienceing an increase in noise by a factor or three. Today I downloaded the Burnsville Trail Master Plan. The introduction stated that the idea was from efforts including Partnerships for Tomorrow, HEART OF THE CITY, and different streetscape projects. I was seeing RED when the HOC was mentioned. Yes the tenticles of the HOC have reached my neighborhood again. This time with NOISE. Don’t think the chickens will lay eggs here.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 am
The Pioneer Press has gotten in on this story a day late and you can read about it here.
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Interesting that the online comments to the Pioneer Press article were taken down. Now there is no opportunity to comment. Anyone know why?
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Vickie, I’ve noticed if responses get “on a roll” either too off topic or ofensive the Pioneer Press cuts off comments…….. that’s why I like Bill’s blog……. He kinda “sets” the tone…….. maybe someone should start a Burnsville blog.
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I will cut the comments off too if it gets out of control but due to the smaller community it’s less common than it would be over at the big news outlets.
I’d love to see more South Metro blogs pop up but they are a lot of work, especially when you get into topics such as these. Good luck.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Does anyone know when the Burnsville City Council will discuss this topic again?
Liz Workman is famous for her level of disrepect to the citizen of Burnsville. I want to see this for myself.
October 1st, 2008 at 10:24 pm
[...] what I just said and would go on and on about all the great things she has done for Burnsville like permitting her fellow council members make a young man feel like a jackass, trying to attract more ridiculous businesses to the city, repeatedly failing miserably with her [...]
October 6th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
While the Burnsville City Council minutes have yet to be officially posted, according to this article over at the Star Tribune it seems unlikely that 11 year old Stefan Remund will be able to keep his chickens.
Choice quote from the idiots who laughed at Stefan:
October 8th, 2008 at 10:36 am
According to this article in the Pioneer Press, it looks like Stefan can keep his chicks while the Burnsville City Council figures out what they are going to do with the ordinance.
The best parts of the article:
So, I guess the next time I break a city ordinance I can fight it in court with the “well, City Council members don’t need to follow the law, why should I?”
October 10th, 2008 at 9:53 am
More from the Star Tribune on this topic here.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
I’m Stefan’s mom, the law breaker! I have just read many of the comments posted and I would like to thank everyone for being so kind and warm toward my son. Stefan is committed to seeing this through, even if he doesn’t get to keep chickens because of our crabby neighbor, he would like to see others have the joy of keeping back-yard chickens. They really are wonderful :-) I’m not a very political person, sadly I don’t watch or follow much of the city council’s doings. I do feel that I have a good sense of people and what kind of heart they have. Liz Workman was not laughing or giggling at Stefan. If you would have seen her eyes you would have been able to tell, she thought Stefan was cute and full of sincerity. I think she really loved Stefan’s presentation and enjoyed his sense of humor. She giggled because Stefan made a comment about Marilyn being the only true blonde in the house. What she saw and you did not is that it is pretty clear – I die my hair! As for the Mayor – I have no doubt she cares for Stefan and his plight to keep his chickens. We were ready to give them up, and she asked if Stefan would like to come to the council meeting to tell his story. I don’t think she was ready, nor were we for the reaction – mostly positive – to his speech. When I first moved to Burnsville 15 years ago – it looked like a dump. There was no town feeling, no community feeling at all. I called it the garage – Burnsville was attached to something. It could not stand alone. Today Burnsville looks great. It has a community feeling and Burnsville is a town/city. I don’t know if every choice she or the council made was right, but if you are not going to vote for her – don’t make the decision on – she doesn’t care about Burnsville or the people. Even I can see – that is not true. She does care and if you met her you would know – she cares. Thanks you – JEN the Hen