diff --git a/development.ini b/development.ini
--- a/development.ini
+++ b/development.ini
@@ -499,7 +499,6 @@ sqlalchemy.db1.url = sqlite:///%(here)s/
 
 sqlalchemy.db1.echo = false
 sqlalchemy.db1.pool_recycle = 3600
-sqlalchemy.db1.convert_unicode = true
 
 ################################
 ### LOGGING CONFIGURATION   ####