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Residents urge training, limits on hives after reported stings in Maplewood
Summary
Two residents described stings and daytime hive moves and asked the council to require beekeeper training, regulate aggressive hives, and limit how many hives may cluster on a street; staff and council discussed nuisance remedies and permitting.
Two residents told the council they want more than technical setbacks: they want training requirements and limits on hives per block. Pam Gunlock said her husband, working in an about-800-square-foot garden, was stung twice in the eye. "He got stung in his eye twice," she said, and asked whether the ordinance would regulate aggressive bees or cap the number of hives permitted on a street.
Tony Myers told the council he has filmed swarm events and provided police with incident reports. "It's been 5 incidents that I know that I've witnessed," he said. Residents asked whether the city could require beekeeping classes; staff suggested discussing a beekeeping workshop with the sustainability commission and noted the draft ordinance already creates a baseline to address nuisance complaints. Council members said nuisance law may already allow the city to act if bees cause injury, but some argued clearer ordinance language could streamline enforcement.
