Matthew Stevens, an agricultural agent with the Halifax County Cooperative Extension Service, pitched the proposal tocity council Tuesday night.

In an interview this morning, Stevens said there are approximately 10 beekeepers who live inside the city limits.

“This is not an issue unique to Roanoke Rapids,” Stevens told council. “It was a high profile issue in Cary in which the town had an ordinance that was changed.”

Stevens explained that honey bees are important to producing the food we eat. One-third of the food eaten is attributed to the work of the bees, he said, that includes nuts, field crops and meat and dairy.

Most ordinances prohibiting hives in city limits are enacted out of fear of stings, he said. The honey bee, he said, “Is much less aggressive than other bees and wasps.”

Stevens said this morning the difference between honey bees and other stinging animals like wasps and hornets is, “The honey bee loses its stinger once it stings. Once it stings the bee dies. Others keep their stingers. They are much less aggressive and only sting when defending the hive.”

The population of honey bees has declined by 50 percent over the last 20 years, Stevens said, an issue that affects food and ecosystems as well as the state of North Carolina, which has the largest number of beekeeper associations in the country.

Stevens suggested several proposals to the amendment, including beekeepers keep a source of water on their property to regulate the temperature of the hive. He said hives would need to be placed in an area of the backyard where they are not openly visible and kept away from property lines.

He said the entryway to hives should be pointed away from neighboring property.

While honey bees will travel four to five miles in search of food, they will also travel to the nearest food source available, including outdoor gardens.

Councilman Wayne Smith was ready to open up the possibility of discussing the bee issue further, but City Clerk Lisa Vincent said a proposed ordinance presenting the changes would have to be drafted first.

Stevens said he talked to some council members after the meeting and was generally encouraged. “For whatever it's worth there is a possibility.”