Stewart Mayor Jason Pierce: Excessive Rental Regulations in the City of Stewart

RENTAL ORDINANCE OVER REGULATED

The current Mayor Jason Pierce, who is running unopposed, has opined that the city of Stewart's rental regulations are excessive:

"The rental ordinance has been a contentious subject within the city. I personally think it's over regulated."

Stewart's rental regulations are far more restrictive than many large cities, including the city of Minneapolis.  A former resident contends that the intention behind the rental ordinance is racist, an attempt to drive out rental properties and their renters, many of whom are Hispanic.



COMMENT ON RESIDENT DELVIN BETHKE, PROSECUTED FOR ZONING VIOLATION

Pierce said that Delvin Bethke, who is being criminally prosecuted by the city for zoning violations, had not filled out the zoning application properly and was given time to make corrections. Bethke says "Sometimes I have a hard time seeing properly. I'm not required anyway to have a permit because it is a temporary structure on skids. But  I gave the city a zoning permit. Kevin Klucas is on the zoning board, and they rejected it. So I gave the another permit, and it never made it to the zoning board. Jason  said they never had a meeting on the second permit."

Pierce said the city is "easy to work with." Bethe says, "The city is impossible to work with." Bethke has pleaded with city officials ,"Please work with me."



COMMENT ON THE SLASHING OF TIRES

Pierce said he had not heard about tires being slashed.