“We Are Not Targeting The Amish” — Township Delays Vote Banning Steel Wheel Buggies After Packed Meeting
A proposed ordinance that would ban steel-wheel buggies in a Pennsylvania township is on hold after dozens of residents packed a supervisors’ meeting Tuesday night to speak against it.
Despite the planned vote, Bedford Township supervisors (Bedford County) did not take one in the end.
They now say they plan to meet with the local Amish community – which they apparently never did (more on that below) – before revisiting the proposal.
Last week we covered the controversy over the ordinance. The proposal would prohibit vehicles with metal wheels on township roads – and require owners of horses and other large animals to clean up or contain animal waste on public roadways. Violations would carry fines from $250 to $500.
According to a new report by Baylee Wojcik at WJAC, many residents vocally objected to the idea of the ordinance:
For over an hour Tuesday night, dozens of residents stood before the Bedford Township supervisors arguing that a proposed ordinance looking to restrict metal wheels and animal waste on township roads will hurt the local Amish community.
Supervisor Dean Shuller pushed back on that framing:
“In the group’s mind, [the ordinance] says ‘Amish ordinance.’ In my mind, it says steel wheels on our roads. We are not targeting the Amish.”
That sounds pretty disingenuous to me – and apparently did to the residents in attendance. One pointed to the practical impact on Amish worship, which rotates between homes each week:
“How many in this room would drive an hour and a half to go to church Sunday morning in a horse and buggy? I think you’re putting a hardship on the wrong people.”
The township however claims that despite the heavy “anti-ordinance” turnout, they actually get a lot of complaints about the issues the ordinance is meant to cover:
They explained off camera that although nearly everyone who attended Tuesday night’s meeting was against the ordinance, the township office receives frequent calls complaining about issues the proposed ordinance is aimed at addressing
They also cited damage they’ve noticed on the roads caused by “metal tracks and wheels,” and showed photos of it, though some residents objected that it was minor.
The Manure Part – And Little Attempt To Talk
The manure half of the proposal also drew expert pushback:
One leader with the Pennsylvania Equine Council spoke out at the meeting, saying that there are little to no health or safety risks associated with waste caused by horses.
Capri Stiles-Mikesell with the council explained, “As far as an environmental concern, DCNR considers horse manure perfectly healthy agricultural commodity.”
Another bit of the report gave weight to one of my suspicions – that there has been little to no constructive dialogue between the township and the Amish:
Some community members also asked the supervisors if they consulted with the Amish community before drafting the ordinance. One supervisor replied that they only attempted to contact the community the morning ahead of the meeting.
One resident responded, “When you said nobody attempted to even talk to anyone in that community until today, it just blew my mind.”
One thing is for sure, local residents have come out strongly against the ordinance – and they’ve put their names to it as well. One attendee drew attention to an online petition against the ordinance that has gathered more than 1,000 signatures in under a week.
Another resident made the case that his Amish neighbors are great neighbors, and that the Amish already do contribute to road upkeep:
“I have neighbors on both sides of me who are of the Amish faith. I have not had better neighbors in my life. The Amish pay taxes. Taxes go for the roadways. The roadways should be maintained in order to support all methods of travel, especially for people that pay for it.”
So in the end, no vote was taken. It sounds like the township officials “read the room”, as they say.
I’m not sure why they thought it would be a good idea to try to essentially make life a lot harder for valued residents of their community – ones that clearly have a lot of support from others in the community. And essentially without talking to them first.
Maybe they should take a lesson from the response they’ve gotten here. It would also be nice if they stopped trying to act like this ordinance isn’t about the Amish. It’s insulting to people’s intelligence.
Update: Video Report Reveals Residents Are Not Happy; Petition Passes 1200 Signatures
WJAC have released the video version of Baylee Wojcik’s report, which you can view below. The main addition that we didn’t have when this story broke last night is footage showing the comments from the meeting attendees, as well as from Supervisor Dean Shuller.
In the video you can clearly tell how a number of the residents who speak – most of them featured in the report I would say – are for lack of a better term, ticked off about this whole idea. WJAC reports there were “over 50 local residents” who attended, and that looks about right from what we see here.
Another new bit to add is the petition mentioned in the report – as of this update, it is up to 1,280 signatures. You can view it here.
Here are the first two paragraphs of the petition text, which outlines the different ways the community values the local Amish population:
The Amish community in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, is more than just a group of people. They are an integral part of our region’s heart and soul. Their contributions to our community are invaluable and multifaceted. They keep our farmland productive, ensuring that markets are stocked with fresh, affordable food that we can trust. The quality of work their skilled tradesmen provide is unmatched, offering construction and craftsmanship that stand the test of time and add true beauty to our neighborhoods.
The Amish also play a crucial role in job creation and attracting visitors, boosting local businesses and fostering tourism that enhances our economy. During times of crisis, they are the first to lend a hand, supporting our community selflessly without asking for anything in return. Their way of life, focused on simplicity and hard work, strengthens the fabric of Bedford County’s economy and preserves the unique character of our countryside.
The petition also features comments from people, presumably who have signed it. Here’s one from a resident of Bedford:
Leave the Amish be, they at least will keep our farmlands, not building business parks on our farms and in peoples back yard!! It’s time to start working together in Bedford County not constantly fighting over stupid stuff!
And here’s another:
Leave the Amish alone! This will hurt our community in so many ways. This is pure discrimination against the amish! Anyone who thinks otherwise needs their head examined!
There are more along similar lines. I think we can conclude that the Amish in Bedford Township are clearly much-appreciated by non-Amish residents in the community, and those residents are standing up in support of their Amish neighbors.
Taking all the above into account, this seems the Bedford Township group perhaps bit off a bit more than they could chew. “Look before you leap” also comes to mind.
Newbies?
I live in a city that used to have a train deliver coal to the local power plant. A few years ago on the neighborhood community website, a woman was complaining about the sound of the train whistle. Apparently she had moved here from a state without train whistles, how sad for her. I think perhaps the people complaining are those new to the area. I’m surprised at how many people move to rural/farming communities and complain about the smells, animals doing what animals do, and the flies. If you are not ready to embrace all of rural life, stay in the cities.
The Amish are really wonderful ,godly people and need to be left alone. I just wonder if theres something else behind this devilish decision.
Well, I don’t know that I would attribute to malice what could be blamed on carelessness or something along those lines.
According to their statements, the township believed there was a problem, they were hearing about it from people.
But the fact they didn’t bother to communicate with the Amish and see if it couldn’t be addressed somehow until the morning of the day of the vote is a peculiar failure. I’d want to know why they didn’t contact them before they got so far along down the ordinance path.
Steel Wheels
Pennsylvania has always been known as the “Land of Potholes.” There is even a song that they used to broadcast annually on the radio: “When the Potholes Start Blooming in the Spring!”
Not including the Amish in the discussion is a dead giveaway. Whom WERE they targeting if NOT the Amish?
Politicians lie all the time. As the late great President Ronald Reagan once famously said, the nine most dangerous words are: “I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help!”
?
I’ve never heard that nickname Jim but thanks for letting me know – maybe I just never hit a big one – but I’ll have my eye out for them next time I’m in PA!