Posted on 03/24/2015 7:40:22 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Amish family facing eviction in Wisconsin for failing to follow building codes. (The first couple of comments are somehow making this Scott Walker’s fault.)
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
An Amish family faces eviction from their home after being found in contempt of court for refusing to comply with building codes on the grounds that doing so would violate the religious community's ban on modern technology.Interesting! I live in Wisconsin. As far as I know, there is no requirement that I must have a smoke alarm. I do, but it is of my own volition.At a Monday hearing, a Circuit Court judge ordered the Eau Claire County sheriff's office to evict Amos and Vera Borntreger, a farming couple with four children under the age of six, from their home in the Old Order Amish community of Fairchild, Wisconsin.
The order comes as the latest development in a five-year battle with the Borntregers, who like other Wisconsin Amish families say they cannot even sign Uniform Dwelling Code permits without violating their faith.
"The Amish object to the new UDC requirements that require modern technology such as smoke alarms—a modern convenience expressly prohibited by their religion," said the National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom, Eau Claire Chapter, in a Monday statement.
"The Amish are willing to pay the fees, but claim that even signing the permit violates their religious beliefs because the form states they would be 'subject to' regulations that require modern electricity and plumbing," the statement said.
Eau Claire County Sheriff Ron Cramer said the judge's order leaves his office with little wiggle room, although he did not tell reporters when the eviction would occur.
"It's one of those things where the judge was emphatic that this doesn't go against their religion, it's about getting permits," Mr. Cramer told WEAU-TV in Wisconsin. "So, it's pretty much in stone and we'll move forward on it."
I didn’t realize that smoke detectors were a UN plot.
“Sand frac mines have already made generous offers on some Amish farms.”...Voila! And the judge is in on it!!!
Yes.
In our area, south of the one in the article, if there is a mortgage, the Amish are required by the bank to leave the electrical lines, sewage, etc in place. Otherwise, the resale value/equity is destroyed. The Bishops allow the lines to remain and the owners simply don’t use them.
Many have indoor toilets. They use pumps powered by diesel to move water for flushing. They may not pass a perc test which allows a gravity septic and are required by the Sanitarian to install a pumped septic. They have propane refrigerators and stoves. They hire drivers. For a while a couple families pooled money to buy a station wagon and one unmarried boy was allowed to drive.
They have businesses are allowed a phone for business purposes. FedEx gives them a separate unit for tracking packages that is not hooked up to the Internet, if they sell mail order. The women in one candy shop use Swiffer Wet Jets with batteries for their floors. Other businesses use belt-driven machinery powered by diesel.
They have a legalistic attitude, are mechanically clever and have ways to get around various conflicts. Some also covert to being Mennonites, who are allowed modern conveniences.
Walker is the chief executive of the state.
He can stop any government process dead in its tracks.
________________________________________
A Governor can not intervene as would a despot. After the fact, he could issue a pardon if a crime is involved. You need to go back to sixth grade civics class but I suspect you are an Obama voting, orfice pumping, lib liimping statist.
In Wisconsin, those regulations are the purview of the county or the township. Water(well and septic) is overseen by the county, while building permits and the like are set by each township. If there is a mortgage, the bank can set requirements for a property. If there is insurance, smoke detectors can be mandated by the policy. Home insurance will have a waiver (an amount that must be paid by the homeowner) for a wood stove. This usually covers the portion of the fee for the volunteer FD that is not covered by taxes,in case of a fire.
I am in rural Wisconsin a couple of counties south of Eau Claire.
:-)
“Eau Claire County Sheriff Ron Cramer said the judge’s order leaves his office with little wiggle room...”
I find this questionable. The USSC in Printz v US found that the sheriff is a sovereign and cannot be compelled to act by other sovereigns. Perhaps this sheriff isn’t up to speed on what his powers are.
.
Thanks for your ignorant, self important comment.
You have no concept of the power of a sitting governor, if he chooses to take personal risk.
.
.
>> “By extension then you agree Obama can do anything he likes too, because he is above the law as well.” <<
Failed Logic 101, huh!
Your strawman shows your lack of reading prowess.
I said that he could stop the process, not create a new one.
The courts have never ruled against a governor that stopped an action to provide for fact-finding.
It’s no different than when Jeb wouldn’t stop the murder of Ms. Schiavo.
.
I would argue that with you but then folks would think e are both fools.
Whatever.
Gotta love that last sentence: “Sand frac mines have already made generous offers on some Amish farms.”
They need to say they are muslim
That’s wrong with you? Don’t you know that executives have supreme magical powers?
Well, I know one executive that thinks he does had ‘magically’ powers.
It sounds as though the county is using permitting as an excuse to enter the property and look for other code violations. What are they doing that needs to be permitted?
Here, they require farmers to sign farm plans. They charge them to have the farm plans drawn up and then require that they sign an agreement to allow county officials to enter at will to inspect compliance. Pacific legal advised the farmers not to sign it. They have no legal authority in this state.
Has anyone contacted Pacific legal?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.