No squirming around

By Jason Spencer American-Statesman Staff Tuesday, July 3, 2001

Neighbors say they complained for years to get the city to do something about the drug trade at the house at 14th and Harvey streets before the Rev. Tommy Bunton moved in. But it took just one day for city zoning inspectors to shut down Bunton's small-time worm business.

A day after the 58-year-old disabled veteran's quirky business was featured on this newspaper's front page, Bunton received a letter from the city giving him 10 days to remove his wooden front yard sign that advertised: "Notary. Counselor. Worms." The inspector included a photocopy of the article in the hand-addressed envelope.

"Failure to correct the violation named herein prior to July 10, 2001 will result in the issuance of a citation and the filing of a criminal complaint in the municipal court of the City of Austin," said the letter, dated June 28. Not complying could mean a fine of up to $2,000.

Bunton was violating a city zoning ordinance that bans home business advertisements on residential property, city code enforcement supervisor James Doyle said. And the two covered plastic bins of worms on Bunton's front porch posed an illegal health hazard, he said.

"I can understand the guy is trying to make an honest living, but I'm in the code enforcement business," Doyle said.

Bunton pulled up the sign that day and tossed it in his back yard. He said he turned away customers, some of whom had traveled from as far away as Round Rock that Friday to pay $2.50 for a cup of the European earthworms they had read about.

"They were very disappointed -- more disappointed than I was," Bunton said Monday. "I even had people coming by asking for my autograph."

Although Bunton had operated his business about two years without a single documented complaint from his neighbors, the city's Development Review and Inspection Department fielded at least two anonymous complaints about the business when the article appeared Thursday, Doyle said.

Bunton's neighbor Ellen Weed said she could not understand why the city moved so swiftly to shut down the business. Weed, who has lived in the neighborhood for three years, said drug dealers were ruining the area before Bunton moved in.

"I don't understand why the city has the resources to shut down a worm farm, but they can't do anything about the crack houses," said Weed, a school teacher.

Bunton can keep his notary business and Christian counseling service, Doyle said, but he cannot advertise them.

"It really doesn't bother me," Bunton said Monday. "I'm still just as happy. People still drive by and wave. As long as they couldn't take away my notary and ministry -- that's what makes me the happiest." Bunton said he'll keep the 2,300 European earthworms, red wigglers and meal worms for personal use until they're all gone.

"I guess I'll have to start going fishing more now," he said.

You may contact Jason Spencer at jspencer@statesman.com or 445-3694

-- libs are idiots (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), July 03, 2001

Answers

He could just change the sign to read "Yard Sale."

-- Semper (hello_to_my@old.pals), July 03, 2001.