Hickman council says horse must go

Peter Rabbit, it seems, must turn tail.

The lone horse in Hickman has lived in a pasture on Harley Scott’s incorporated four-acre property for all of his 30 years, but he got the boot Tuesday night.

A vote to enact an ordinance that allows horses -- including worldwide attention-grabbing ones -- to live within Hickman’s corporate limits failed on a 2-4 vote at a Hickman City Council meeting.

The ordinance, introduced for consideration Tuesday by Councilman Mike Cejka and seconded by Councilwoman Kim Hoesing, offered a compromise: All horses, including Peter Rabbit, could stay. The current city ordinance bans all large animals.

Horses would be required to reside on a minimum of 1.5 acres, and their owners would have to have an annual health certificate from a veterinarian, pay an annual licensing fee and meet fencing requirements.

But Cejka and Hoesing were the only council members to vote in favor of the change. Voting against it were Richard Harms, Doug Hanson, Dave Dykmann and Steve Noren.

Brett Baker, Hickman’s city administrator and economic development director, said there wasn’t much support for the horse from Hickman residents, and “no representation from Peter Rabbit’s close relatives.”

The Scotts were out of town and could not be reached for comment. Their son, Jack Scott, who Baker said was aware of the Tuesday discussion, didn’t show for the meeting and could not be reached Tuesday night.

 “We hope it would be reasonable,” Jack Scott said earlier, when asked if the family would abide by a new ordinance.

Baker said the compromise ordinance was similar to one the council considered in November. At that time, he said, Harley Scott indicated he would not comply, and the ordinance was not acted upon.

Two weeks ago, a sheriff’s deputy delivered a letter from the city to Harley Scott telling him he had 30 days to comply with the ordinance banning large animals.

On Tuesday night, Mayor Jim Hrouda said he’d allow three people to speak in favor of keeping the horse and three to speak in opposition.

One person supported keeping Peter Rabbit around, and two spoke against the idea.

That smattering of voices, Baker said, was consistent with the response city officials received from Hickman residents after Peter Rabbit’s fate made news around the globe.

Although the city received a a slew of letters, e-mails and phone calls, just a few were from the people of Hickman. Of 51 letters, Baker said four came from residents -- two from the same woman. Fewer than 10 of some 1,300 e-mails that listed addresses came from people in town.

Callers included the family that owned late Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and a member of the office of  U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia -- but just three who identified themselves as Hickman residents.

Baker said most of the outsiders calling and writing didn’t know the full story. He noted that then-Councilman Jack Scott voted in favor of the large-animal ban in 1988. Nor were they aware, Baker said, that Harley Scott and his wife, Cheryl, asked that Peter Rabbit’s abode be voluntarily annexed into the city.

Baker said once the Barbaro owner’s family member was told about it all, she changed her mind, and said the horse had to go.