Deadline passes; horse in Hickman still grazing ( 7 lawyers to defend horse from annexation)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10433900

Published Monday September 15, 2008
Deadline passes; horse in Hickman still grazing
BY PAUL HAMMEL
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN – A 1 p.m. deadline passed today and the last horse in the Lincoln suburb of Hickman is still grazing in his pasture, awaiting the start of an anticipated court battle over whether he must move out.

Defenders of the horse, named "Peter Rabbit," have become so numerous that the city of 1,500 has had to establish a separate voice-mail system for phone callers and a separate e - mail address for those wanting to protest the city’s decision to enforce an ordinance banning livestock within city limits.

A team of seven lawyers saddled up last week to defend the horse, whose pasture is now surrounded by development in the fast-growing suburb.

Kelly Hoffschneider, Hickman’s city attorney, said the community plans to begin issuing citations to the horse’s owner, Harley Scott, as soon as Scott returns to his home in Hickman.

Scott was out of town on Monday, as was his son, Jack, who owns the pasture on which Peter Rabbit, 32, has lived his entire life.

Scott can then either pay the $100-a-day citations or – as he’s promised in the past – fight the tickets in court.

The tale of the horse took a turn two years ago his pasture was annexed within the city, putting the horse in violation of the city law. It’s sparked a battle that is spiced with small-town politics and clashing personalities.

The Scotts have argued that the horse should enjoy "grandfather rights" and be left alone, while city officials maintain that allowing an exception could cause problems with others wishing to have horses, goats and pigs in the city.

Also at link previous stories: • Legal posse formed to help save old Hickman horse

• Legal cavalry rides to old horse's defense

[hedgehog]

1. Wow - I've never heard of any change in city limits or zoning

that didn't grandfather existing land use!

[RollWithIt]

2. Friggin economy is going to shit and they're arguing over a horse...

Let the old guy eat his grass for a couple more years. Gees.

[Omaha Steve]

3. kick

[ColbertWatcher]

4. The horse is in violation. Really?

Here is a family of bobcats who moved into a home emptied by foreclosure.


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bobcats5-2008sep05,1,1680944.story

When will people accept that some things in nature cannot be annexed?