Animals -- specifically bees and dogs -- came to the attention of the Pea Ridge City Council at the July 21 meeting.
Dan Peters, who lives at 1325 W. Pickens Road, is a beekeeper whose hives drew a complaint at City Hall. City ordinances do not allow bee hives.
"I bought property west of the high school and have a few bee hives," Peters told aldermen. "That caused someone concern."
In working with city building official Tony Townsend, it was decided that keeping bees is not allowed.
City officials decided to research the issue and change the ordinance to allow bees.
Regarding dogs, aldermen reviewed a bid from veterinarian Gary France to provide kennel services for animal control efforts in the city. A bump in the process happened at the end of the review, when aldermen came to a clause asking for the city to indemnify him, the clinic and his employees.
City attorney Howard Slinkard said the Arkansas Constitution prohibits cities from lending its credit to anybody.
"When you say indemnity," Slinkard said, "that's what you are doing -- saying the city will back you up."
France responded: "If I don't have this, we don't have a contract."
Slinkard said he would research the issue and report back at the next meeting.
The city's previous contract with France expired; he signed a temporary contract that ended July 22. During the meeting he agreed to extend the contact until the day after the next meeting.
Aldermen also suggested that the contract contain wording that allows for cost adjustment every two years.
The decision about bees came after Mayor Jackie Crabtree asked, "Being out of compliance with current zoning, do we just let that go until we get it settled and the Planning Commission get something going (to change the ordinance to allow bees)?"
Slinkard said things will be "a little more involved than what's been described. I'll look at it. Leave things as they are for now."
Peters noted that other cities have various regulations for bees, and that creating an allowance for them should be simple. Bees are considered livestock by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
He noted that there are other beekeepers in the city who have hives, and that wild hives also live in the city. He noted that he also has hives a few feet outside the city; those fly into the city without impediment.
Peters noted that he could move his hives 50 yards and they'll be outside the city.
"I don't think," Crabtree said, "we can put a fence up around Pea Ridge so a bee can't come in."
Peters noted that when a bee is flying around it is looking for nectar and pollen.
"They don't feed on us," Peters said. "Typically a bee is not going to sting you unless you provoke it... Sweating on hot day, they'll come drink off your arm. Don't swat at it."
Townsend noted that he watched Peters work with the hives and they are very calm.
"I would not say they are pets," Peters said. "Are they domesticated? As much as cows are."
Talking about an aggressive hive, Peters noted, "Nobody wants to be working around 60,000 angry bees."
Peters noted that there is a national decline in bees, which threatens many aspects of agriculture because pollination depends on the bees. He noted that the city's effort to spray mosquitoes was harmful to bees.
"Sure it's going to affect them. It's going to be on the leaves. If it's a direct hit, it will kill them," he said.
Alderman Steve Guthrie asked if most spraying is done at night then the bees are in their hives. Peters noted that some bees forage all night, and at 8 p.m. this time of year bees are still out. The city's spraying happens two hours earlier than it should to protect bees.
General News on 07/29/2015