Mayor Debbie Brake-Patten called it a fabulous day for Kippens, with two motions regarding orders on the Aucoin Family Farm and Schoefer horses rescinded.
However, Cora and Gerard Aucoin are still a little leery and want to see something in writing about their property remaining non-conforming, since they had orders put against them on two occasions and are wondering if that might happen again.
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Brake-Patten called the early afternoon meeting to deal with three motions, the first being that, in light of new information regarding the municipal planning process 2011, which included the acknowledgment of existing non-conforming use for farming, council moved to rescind the Aucoin Family Farm removal orders issued Oct. 15, 2018.
A second motion with the same wording, with the only change being for agriculture/livestock in Schoefer's case, indicated that removal orders issued on horses in July are rescinded.
The third motion was because of public demand and interest for more farms in Kippens, council hold public consultations about zoning limitations for farming and agriculture to ascertain public interest given the high volume of calls, emails and correspondence council has received this month.
Brake-Patten said the Farm Industry Review Board will have standards for size and number of animal units, with size depending on the intensity of use (number of animals).
At the meeting, Brake-Patten said as mayor she felt it was time for openness and transparency on the issues of the Aucoin farm.
“Council relies on staff to provide us with information necessary to make informed decisions,” she said.
Brake-Patten said in March of 2018 a motion was made by council which was not extensively researched or debated by the entire council.
She said following that motion of removal orders in response to heavy public outcry and many questions around the council table, the motion was rescinded with the objective to gather more facts and data by legal counsel and a higher authority.
Brake-Patten said public perception is that Kippens council has avoided speaking on this matter, and for that reason council would be guilty by association, but said council did not speak until it was informed of all the facts.
“In light of the new evidence collected since our Oct. 11 regular town meeting, council brought these three new motions forward,” she said.
Walter Schoefer, who was given an order to remove his three horses from his property, said his dad Walter Schoefer Sr. had horses dating back to the 1960s before the town was incorporated.
He said he brought lots of documentation to Kippens town hall, but officials wouldn’t even take it – a similar complaint made by Cora and Gerard Aucoin about the documentation they brought in.
With nearly 10 acres of land that has trees around the property’s edge and nobody else’s property open to his pasture, he can’t see any reason for his horses being a problem.
“Our family loves them and I can’t see why anyone else interested wouldn’t have them if they have the land for it,” Schoefer said.
The family includes his wife Mandy and three sons: Logan, 15 years; Casey, 12; and Kaleb, nine.
