The small southern Utah town of Hurricane might become a little quieter after a statue of a copper bull lost its most prominent private feature this weekend . The sculpture holds a high perch above the sign for Barista 's restaurant , and owner Stephen Ward said he woke up Friday and decided the bull would look better without the oversized genitalia that caused uproar among the neighbors . Hurricane residents disturbed by the noticeable , cone-shaped feature had asked the city council to revoke Barista 's business license . Hurricane , Utah , restaurant Barista 's cased an uproar after displaying a bull on its sign with over-sized genitalia ( left ) . On Friday owner Stephen Ward decided to remove ( right ) the genitalia that caused such a disturbance in the town . Ward told the St. George Spectrum on Saturday that he made it clear to city officials before he altered the statue that he was n't bowing to community pressure . ' I told them I am not removing the penis for you or because of your complaints . I do n't like you . I 'm doing it for me , ' Ward told . ' I just decided it would look better without the weenie . And oh my God ! It 's beautiful . ' Even before the battle over the bull , tensions had been running high between Ward and the local community just north of the Arizona border . Customers have said the food is too expensive , alleged that Ward is hostile and has poor business practices . He says his offerings are the best in the region and has n't hesitated to push back . The dispute got physical on March 14 , when an altercation erupted between a Barista 's employee and a patron . The patron was cited for a number of misdemeanors , including assault , according to the Hurricane City Police Department . Though Ward received an onslaught of criticism for the bull , he insists that he is not removing the genitalia for the community , but because he 'just decided it would look better ' Ward , however , said the incident was n't handled appropriately and is upset that the patron was n't arrested . The copper bull 's over-sized genitalia reinvigorated the fight . After a steady stream of complaints , city officials were evaluating whether there were grounds to force the removal or modification of the bull . City Manager Clark Fawcett said the sign was approved by the planning department and Ward went through the proper channels , but : 'the dimensions of certain parts of the animal do n't seem to be built the same way as in the plan that came to us . ' More than 500 people signed the petition asking the council strip restaurant of its business licence . According to the petition : 'As a member of the Hurricane City council has already said , Barista 's has given Hurricane , UT a `` black eye '' . 'It 's owner is a terrible representation of what our community stands for . He takes advantage of every person that walks into his restaurant . 'They intentionally take excessive advantage of those that are visiting our community from other parts of the world . Ward ( pictured ) has had more than one clash with residents of Hurricane , but he said this recent conflict has n't hurt business . 'They have a horrible reputation that shines a bad light on the rest of Hurricane , UT . We as a community will not stand aside and allow this false representation be made ! ' Local resident Denise Mackelprang told The St George News : 'It looks terrible . I could see the bull , but not the details of the sex . It ’ s R-rated to me , especially with young school kids seeing it and talking about it . ' Fellow resident Lindsay Knapp complained : 'The giant bull is awesome . The giant , weird testicles and penis are not even anatomically correct … that is my issue . ' Ward acknowledged Saturday that he did feel like something was a bit off after he installed the bull . 'It did n't even look ( right ) , it was in the shape of a cone — but I do n't know what a weenie on a bull is supposed to look like , ' Ward said . He said he did n't put it up to make anyone angry on purpose , but the conflict has n't hurt his business . ' I put it up because it 's an amazing piece , and I bought it as-is , ' he said , 'but I am having fun with all the attention and it 's brought in more customers . '
Restaurateur Stephen Ward removed over-sized genitalia after locals complained and tried to revoke his business license . The genitalia was on a massive bull atop his restaurant 's storefront sign . Ward said that he did not remove the genitals because of complaints but because he thought the bull looked better without it . He said that locals in Hurricane City have never liked him . Ward said he bought the bull 'as-is ' and that it has been great for business .