michigan taking over peoples houses

[98valk]

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/0NdqTjN7/michigan-county-threatens-to-demolish-14-amish-homes-unless-they-give-up-their-religious-beliefs-and-upgrade-their-homes?s=ws_fb

[..]

Hello we are here from the government to help you. Bastards.

[cookiedough]

that is so wrong welcome back to the 1800s when slavery existed. 

I guess freedom is not free where they live? 

and here I thought my town was bad considering sidewalks in entire subdivision and not being able to burn in a burning barrel?  Guess not so bad after all?  My ex-neighbor in yuppie vil Madison WI area is NOT allowed to park a trailer or ATV or anything besides his car on his OWN driveway, not even placing a small 7x8 foot open trailer alongside the garage in his yard/grass.  That is so wrong as well.

 

[old2soon]

        I have Amish about 25-30 miles from where I reside. There houses are easy to spot at night-oil lamps give off a very distinct glow. During the day there are no electric wires visible to the Amish houses. What is being proposed there is more than wrong-it's criminal Against the Amish. They appear-IF they'll talk at all-very peaceful and law abiding and as I understand it closed society. Have these Mi. Amish P Od some political types there? Or do someone see money on the horizon when the slip shod over priced housing is built on what was once their land? Bastids. RIDE SAFE.

[Valker]

Agreed, follow the money. Someone is committing grand larceny on these Amish. They need to be arrested for even trying this.

[Bighead]

This needs to be taken to the highest court in the nation.

[scooperhsd]

We have Amish out here in Kansas too. The farmhouses don't have "modern utilities", but they are well maintained. The barns and work buildings are another matter - equipped with electricity to run machinery for farm activity and running sewing machines for manufacturing.

As someone else said - follow the money on why they are being persecuted in this fashion.

[Rams]

I'll always agree with "following the money" and based on the article, it does sound like the county or someone with money wants them out or at least their property.   But that may not be the case.  I have known a few Amish during my time on this planet and I could not have asked for nicer people as neighbors whether I agree with their lifestyle or not.   They were always clean, hardworking and honest people to deal with.

What I have learned though is, there is normally more to the story and the article definitely doesn't share any light on what else may be going on.   For evidence of a biased media, look at political coverage.  Do the outhouses not meet the standard for outhouses (whatever that is)?   Why is it that the houses are not meeting required standards?  

Rams

[RP#62]

I agree with Rams.  Not a whole lot of facts presented.  Lots of people have septic tanks, can't see where that'd be an issue and it shouldn't matter how you pump water from the well.  May be some issue of them not meeting code requirements that everyone else must comply with and them not cooperating.  Either that or like others have said, someone else wants the property.

-RP

[baldo]

Agree with all.

This thing stinks.

[Dave Ritsema]

While the subject post story may be mostly accurate it is also showing only one part of the story and is designed to sensationalize the topic. The local government is trying to reach a compromise with the Amish community over concerns of how they dispose of their human waste and has offered several options, none of which the Amish find acceptable. Concerns over groundwater contamination and spread of disease are valid concerns. Would you really want to live next door to a neighbor that simply dumps their crap out on the ground in a manure pile and allows it to find its way into your drinking water?

https://www.lenconnect.com/news/20191229/lenawee-county-health-department-seeks-compromise-over-amish-homes

The offer of them simply installing vaults under their outhouses that could be pumped out periodically seems reasonable to me, it would appear they do not wish to compromise. Sorry, to me that's not religious persecution.

[Patrick]

There are a lot of Amish and Mennonite in our area. We all seem to get along just fine, the only thing I'm aware of that 'we' have made them do is use rubber cleats or tires on their tractors as they were tearing up the roads.

What they do in or with their homes should be their right.

That said, maybe I should read the article to see what is being mentioned.

[carolinarider09]

According to the last posted article the issue is disposal of human waste. 

A quote from the last posted link.

"One Amish couple told The Daily Telegram earlier this month they dispose of their waste by dumping it on a livestock manure pile. Hall said other Amish families dispose of their waste in similar ways.

The main problem with this method is that the waste is untreated. Michigan public health code does not allow for human waste or gray water — wastewater from bathtubs and sinks — to be disposed of in such a way, Hall said."

So, I figured I'd see what the comparison between human waste animal waste.  Looks like (from the link below) its 1,000 humans equal 20 cows.  Here is the study.

 

https://www.ridgetownc.com/research/documents/fleming_huvsanim0107.PDF

[Alpha Dog]

According to the last posted article the issue is disposal of human waste. 

A quote from the last posted link.

"One Amish couple told The Daily Telegram earlier this month they dispose of their waste by dumping it on a livestock manure pile. Hall said other Amish families dispose of their waste in similar ways.

The main problem with this method is that the waste is untreated. Michigan public health code does not allow for human waste or gray water — wastewater from bathtubs and sinks — to be disposed of in such a way, Hall said."

So, I figured I'd see what the comparison between human waste animal waste.  Looks like (from the link below) its 1,000 humans equal 20 cows.  Here is the study.

 

https://www.ridgetownc.com/research/documents/fleming_huvsanim0107.PDF

Maybe they should just ship their human waste to San Francisco.  They do not seem to mind it so much there.

[Patrick]

They dump their waste on a manure pile ?  Whatever happened to outhouses ?  NYS once tried to eliminate them from some rural areas but found they were actually better for the environment than other methods so they backed off. Every few years you just move it.

[cookiedough]

if they dump their poo on cow/cattle/horse poo piles, what is the difference, it is all poo right?   

I see it as NO big deal live and let live if this is the real drama queen story here. 

they take the manure spreader and spread on their fields right, poo is poo?  or is it???     

The local Amish people have a store about 20 miles from my house and we go there past 30+ years a few times per year to get stuff DIRT cheap in heavy duty bags never a problem with what they sell as being bad.    Am sure a lot of Amish have been doing the same thing for decades with no issues,  until the local govt. steps in and creates drama.

[Bighead]

   I Am sure a lot of Amish have been doing the same thing for decades with no issues,  until the local govt. steps in and creates drama.

This is the biggest problem.

[Rams]

I hope someone local is following this story, would like to know how this settles out.  
The whole situation stinks to high heaven if you ask me.  
BTW, who started this crap?   

Rams 

[Robert]

I think this is more the rub than anything since the Amish have been there for years without incident. There is so much governmental speak in the words they used to cite the Amish that it speaks of harassment. The Amish should have been allowed to grandfather in their lifestyle and the rules quoted were made for modern dairy farms and even houses. 

https://www.toledoblade.com/local/environment/2019/12/19/lenawee-county-vs-amish-debate-brings-out-the-paradox-in-regulations/stories/20191219144

This means the government can come into your house or look around your property and condemn it for codes or violations they see as a problem. Now if its reasonable or not they have way to much authority to tear their houses down or throw them out. Especially with no provable impact from doing things the way they are doing them. Guilty until proven innocent, as an example the rail roads have been there long before most people and they impact they have over the communities the are in are questionable yet they are allowed to do things since they have been there that most would not be allowed to do.

 If you move into an area that has Amish or rail road you are the newcomer and know what you are moving next to.