His rumpus better rest up, because Farmer H's mouth has been writing checks all over Sis-Town! Somebody in the city seems to have a grudge.
We don't need to rehash it here, but Farmer H's confidant at the senior center had mentioned a couple of people didn't want him to have that job at the apartments. Then he got into it with them about who was paying for the lawn maintenance there, and about the inspections that the building should not have passed in its current condition. He was told to stop taking rent in cash, because they didn't want to deal with it in the office. It's like they're looking for something to gripe about or trap him in.
Let the record show that I am often not the biggest fan of how Farmer H deals with things, but he is not lazy, and not a scofflaw. I told him early on that somebody was out to make his life miserable (besides me, heh, heh!), and I hoped they didn't take it out on The Pony, whose house is in that town.
Now they have! Farmer H got a letter that his property was a nuisance! The Pony also got one, as the occupant. It had pictures of the front area by the sidewalk at The Pony's house. The letter said grass and weeds were overgrown.
The letter was dated July 16. Farmer H checked his list where he puts down the days and jobs he does, for billing purposes on the flip houses and The Pony's house. He pays cash and we reimburse him for that, and for labor, and for Old Buddy's wages. Farmer H had mowed The Pony's yard on July 16.
"It must have been that afternoon, after he took them pictures. There's houses all around there with weeds higher than that. I called the guy, and he said I have to maintain the part out front, too. I told him I ain't cuttin' down the tree that's growin' in the ditch.
They wouldn't let me cut through the sidewalk to tie into the water line when I was working on The Pony's house. They told me I had to be licensed and bonded. So I did it on the other side of the sidewalk, the yard side. Now they want me to cut a tree out of their ditch! No way am I going to do that, and have them tell me I messed up their city drains! I said he can send me a letter every day, and fine me every day, but I ain't cuttin' down that tree! He said he'd call the street department. I called the councilman to complain. He never called me back. So I went to city hall the next day, and they said to go talk to the street department myself, and I said that was just a waste my time!"
We'll see what comes of this. Farmer H is in a tizzy, incensed that he maintains his properties, while others are overgrown. Oh, and one of his friends from the senior center said SHE got a letter that she's supposed to maintain the property on the other side of her fence, to the center of the alley. "I've lived here 32 years, and this is the first time I've ever heard anything about taking care of the property over my fence." Funny how she's a friend of Farmer H, and that happens now...
4 comments:
Someone is being a real jerk. I hope Hick doesn't give in and quit due to all the bureaucratic bs. Or just someone who knows someone who is just being a jerk. I am glad Hick keeps records, and I admire his determination to get to the bottom of an issue. It seems there is someone new on the "board" that has a massive chip on their shoulder or feels they have an enormous amount of "power" - real or imagined. Too bad he can't find out who the person is that is dictating all of this. Wishing you good luck Hick. Too many morons in this world that play God. Too many who think they are empowered to do whatever they want. Too big for their britches, as my grandmother would say. Ranee
I call b***s*** on small town govt "officials" who are too big for their darned britches.
Rae,
I agree! We've never had problems like this until recently. Even Farmer H's battles with the OTHER town, over dividing the flip house properties, was basically civil, despite some procedural irregularities. It didn't seem like someone on a power trip.
Nursejoan,
We think we know the culprit, but there's really nothing we can do except question why they suspect we are doing wrong, and not give them the same opportunity again.
I forgot about the mixed message on Farmer H's LAND where the city reversed their plan to take down that garage door business guy's sign. First the official in charge tells him that, then the next week that decision was changed because that guy brings business into the city, and it's not a big deal. Something fishy there for sure!
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