>> Members of the Old Order strictly adhere to Amish religious and cultural traditions, and they reject electric appliances, modern plumbing and other innovations.
The county welcomed the Amish when they first began settling in Eau Claire in the 1970s. “Bridge Creek officials say that if the Amish hadn’t moved in and paid their taxes, the town would probably now be vacant,” State Rep. Kathy Bernier, R-Lake Hallie, told Wisconsin Watchdog. “They appreciate the Amish for taking over these little farms that were going bankrupt in the ’70s.”
The county welcomed the Amish when they first began settling in Eau Claire in the 1970s. “Bridge Creek officials say that if the Amish hadn’t moved in and paid their taxes, the town would probably now be vacant,” State Rep. Kathy Bernier, R-Lake Hallie, told Wisconsin Watchdog. “They appreciate the Amish for taking over these little farms that were going bankrupt in the ’70s.”
The Amish still maintain good relations with Eau Claire’s people, but in 2005 their relationship with the county’s Department of Planning and Development soured. That year the Uniform Dwelling Code took effect in Wisconsin, creating statewide standards for homes.
Mandating certain standards in electrical wiring, plumbing and requiring homes to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the UDC had no provision for the Amish, whose religious beliefs require them to reject those things.
..
The county decided to fully enforce the UDC, regardless of religious objections.
.... Eau Claire began to take civil enforcement actions the Amish for UDC violations. Most of the actions cited failure to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The county has taken civil enforcement actions against 13 Amish families, imposing daily fines, which the Amish refuse to pay. “The daily fines for several families have gone into the six-figures,” Mortimer said.
In March, a circuit court judge ordered the eviction of an Amish family after finding them in contempt of court for refusing to comply the UDC and the permitting process. “The judge ordered the eviction of Amos and Vera Borntreger and their six young children,” Mortimer said.<<
The happy ending though: ..
The county decided to fully enforce the UDC, regardless of religious objections.
.... Eau Claire began to take civil enforcement actions the Amish for UDC violations. Most of the actions cited failure to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The county has taken civil enforcement actions against 13 Amish families, imposing daily fines, which the Amish refuse to pay. “The daily fines for several families have gone into the six-figures,” Mortimer said.
In March, a circuit court judge ordered the eviction of an Amish family after finding them in contempt of court for refusing to comply the UDC and the permitting process. “The judge ordered the eviction of Amos and Vera Borntreger and their six young children,” Mortimer said.<<
a state rep was able to insert a provision into the state budget bill that enabled a waiver for the Amish. But it took TEN YEARS to resolve.
Another example of government acting on its own ideals without listening to its constituents.
Best part of the article:
>>The county maintains those detectors are necessary to protect emergency workers responding to a fire at an Amish home. “Emergency personnel need to have information so they know what they’re facing, otherwise we’re asking them to go in with blinders on,” Gurney explained.
Gurney did not explain why emergency personnel would need a smoke detector to warn them of a fire in a home already ablaze. <<
Gurney did not explain why emergency personnel would need a smoke detector to warn them of a fire in a home already ablaze. <<
