St. George farm allowed to keep its 40 bee colonies

ST. GEORGE (AP) — A farming family won't be forced to remove 40 bee colonies that have drawn complaints from neighbors.

Paula Houston , St. George's deputy city attorney, says there wasn't enough evidence to pursue complaints from neighbors that the bees were congregating around pools, fountains and other water sources.

The bees help pollinate a 15-acre alfalfa field, which is about 300 yards away from a large subdivision.

Homeowners in the area could still file a civil lawsuit.

Matt Hargreaves, a Utah Farm Bureau spokesman, says a bill that failed to get approval in the 2008 Legislature would have made it difficult for neighbors to sue over the sights and smells of a farming operation.