Is Grove a One-Horse Town?

Just over a block north of the main highway into Grove sits a small house with a horse. The lot is 9480 square feet and is owned by Paul Ruckman. His neighbors are unhappy.
Dixie Wolfe has appeared before the Planning & Zoning Board and the City Council seeking relief and a change in the zoning laws for large animals. She is concerned about property values, the stench, flies, rodents and the horse itself which feeds out of a haybale in the carport. The horse moved in last May.
The horse's byproduct is put into black trash bags and placed in the street for pickup by city crews. Ms. Wolfe says the orange animal fence is on city property next to the street.
At this week's city council meeting the agenda item to amend Animal Ordinance 354 to add site restriction for large animals was tabled. Current zoning allows for all but swine inside the city limits.
Sandra Brown, a neighbor to the north whose driveway adjoins the fence around the horse's lot, said she canot even enjoy a meal due to the stench. She is facing huge medical bills and fears she cannot sell her home due to the problem next door.
Ruckman says he cleans the area twice a day and the fence is on the property line and that no one has ever talked to him about the problem. Now, lawyers are involved, he says.
Councilman Gary Bishop said the city is not ignoring the problem; City Manager Bill Galletly said he would have the city attorney look into what can be done.
Meanwhile, Ms. Wolfe says her patience is about gone and she is ready to call Fox News if the issue can't be resolved. Stay Tuned: News at 9.