Last night at the "Neighborhood Association meeting"

[rburg]

I go to have fun, poke fun at my neighbors, and generally tell it as I see it.

The city wants to take my house away and build a Palace of a firehouse. I'm not happy. Besides, I'm too old to be homeless, don't want another mortgage, and just generally detest eminent domain and how its being used.

We had lots of guests at our little meeting. We had the Fire Chief, the Asst City Manager, and a cop who comes (probably to keep order.) Also, one of our 4 city commissioners. She's a neighbor.

They're now open to other suggestions on where to build the new firehouse. So we made some, and they wouldn't include taking any owner occupied homes. My friend, the city commissioner-ette was sitting next to me. She's never met anyone who is as brutally honest as I am. She's on pins and needles when I'm talking, as she should be.

But when the discussion about siting and space requirements came up, she jokingly said "well, we could just wait till you die!"

And my buddy, the other chainsaw addict in our group pointed out "That can be arranged." Guess they've got me ready for the dirt nap.

Its interesting that 4 or 5 of the people there were begging the city to take their property instead of mine.

I've never understood the wet blanket or cold chill that such an announcement makes over your plans. My wife doesn't want to spend another cent on the house until its resolved. Not sure she even wants to mow the lawn ever again. It sure puts your house and future plans on hold.

K.38, are you reading? Maybe I'll become a neighbor in Chaffee County. I'll kidnap some favored grandkids and head out.

 

[Toyman]

Hey Dick FEMA is selling of the trailers brought into eastern Iowa after last years flood maybe you could sell and get a good deal on a slightly used mobil home ?

 

[Spotteddog]

Yeah,
But Dick couldn't get one at the same price!

 

[JOERM]

If it were me I'd go ballistic. It'd be the ton of bricks that broke the camels back. I would win one way or another, for good or bad.

Good luck and hope this doesn't mean you have to mow the lawn and I hope you get some sleep and think about it too much. Yeah right.

joe

 

[straightshooter1]

I dunno, Dick. You probably have, but, if you haven't, check into your state's laws as to what happens when the government takes your property.

I do understand when someone wants to take property that has been in your family for generations, has some meaning apart from being "yours," or is a place your wife or husband is buried, etc. BUT:

Please, Florida, take my home!

Here, we get a trial with a 12 member jury, the government pays ALL costs including your lawyer, all the experts you <STRIKE>hire</STRIKE> buy, and they add in the value of your garden, your Wally Watt, your new paint job, your fence, etc., and, usually, it is a real money maker for the land owner.

I had a case, before I retired, where the County paid an elected official a ridiculous amount for an unbuildable piece of property (wetlands) and coaxed a (IMO) phony or a least flawed appraisal all, they said, to avoid the horrors of a condemnation trial and the resulting expenses.

Actually, I hope they don't try to take your home, but if they do, I can only hope your laws are as "victim' friendly as ours.

Bob

 

[reerc]

Every private property grab under the guise of "eminent domain" should be thwarted as strongly as possible - IMHO.

The gumm'nt takes enough of our property every April 15th, without city/state entities getting into the act under this ruse. Fight to keep what is legally and lawfully yours!

 

[Old 44 Guy]

My son belonged to a Trap & Skeet Club in Sacramento,CA. City wanted it for increasing a golf club as I remember. Right of Public Domain. In stead they sold it to a Pontiac dealer who was related to a local official. Club was paid some money but now can't find a place to buy that is far enough away from civilization. Pontiac going under with G.M. Wonder how thats working out?

 

[K.38]

Dick glad to have you as a neighbor. Lots of places for sale now, prices still sky high however.

Aside from the prices and lots of leftist moonbats around this isn't to bad a place to live. We have two real nice ranges, one public and one private. Two gun shops both even have some ammo and evil auto-loading rifles in stock.

 

[DWFAN]

We had a similar situation here about five years ago. An older family farm, over a hundred years in the family, was being picked for eminent domain by the city for an industrial park.
There were two houses on the property and about six family members living in both houses. The local community was in an uproar and let the local politicians know it. Well they took it anyway. The family fought and it took the city two years to get it done.
We ended up voting the retards out. The story is a lot longer than that but I would be here all night. If you have referendums in your by laws you may be able to get the community to vote on it, not the politicians. We enacted such laws here so the same thing wouldn't happen again.
DW

 

[Douglas Haig]

Get a lawyer Dick. Eventually they will get your property but you can sure as heck make them pay for it.

 

[charlie sherrill]

They wouldn't take your "Lawn Of The Month" neighbor with the fertilized grass?

 

[n4zov]

Get a lawyer Dick.

Good advice. The property owner usually loses in these cases, but you should do everything you can to insure you receive the fairest settlement possible.

 

[Ogandydancer]

I don't like/beleive in eminent domain or forced annexation. They are both just ways to force people to do things they do not want to do. It's like a man asking to buy your property for 1/10 of it's true value and when you refuse to sell they make a law saying "you have to sell" whether you want to or not or they will just take it. A legalized way of stealing plain and simple.

 

[rburg]

Some events unfolding. My wife went shopping last night, so as soon as she left I started mowing. Its kind of a pain because of the landscaping, trees, bushes, etc. Its really 3 lots, so I had my work cut out for me. Then I mowed the neighbor in the 2nd house down. I was careful to leave the one between us tall and growing. You sure can tell where my fertilizer went. Its lush and green!

All around the "For Sale" sign.

My wife went up to work at the Free Store this morning. Its a place where they give bums, ne'r do wells, and cheating rich folks free food. Some honestly poor people slip thru the cracks and get some much needed food, too. While she was there the Fire Chief and the Asst. City Manager came in, looking at the suggested parcels as alternatives to mine. Word was they really liked that idea. And if they decide to take 2 houses (vs 3 here), they'd have as much or more land. Of course the church would need to be willing to sell. Don't know if they can condemn church parsonage houses or not (its usually vacant.)

 

[DJINCO]

Dick,

I would welcome you to Colorado. You are a very frequent guest here, and I think it would be great for you to stay.

It is true, prices in Chaffee County are high, over Trout Creek Pass the prices in Park County are a little better - not quite so many folks from Denver.

I hope that it all works out well for you.

 

[Herknav]

Mr. Burg,

I got to thinking (dangerous habit) that you've mentioned the drunks can't handle the curve in front of your house and usually end up in the ditch or front yard. Perhaps the FD just wants to relocate to Ground Zero to better serve that segment of the population. :shrug:

All kidding aside, I hope you do well in your fight for what is just.

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by DJINCO:
Dick,

It is true, prices in Chaffee County are high, over Trout Creek Pass the prices in Park County are a little better - not quite so many folks from Denver.

I'd like Bueny. We spent a week there in 1965. It was great then, too. Every day I click on the St Elmo webcam. There seem to be an increasing number of residents spending the winter, too. About 5 or 6 years ago we considered Alpine, but after the mud slides a couple of years ago, I think its undesirable as a primary residence.

I do envy the Cravens family from Texas. They have a really nice compound in St Elmo. It has remained rustic enough, but they seem to have enjoyed the place for decades.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Originally posted by Dick Rumbaugh:
My son belonged to a Trap & Skeet Club in Sacramento,CA. City wanted it for increasing a golf club as I remember. Right of Public Domain. In stead they sold it to a Pontiac dealer who was related to a local official. Club was paid some money but now can't find a place to buy that is far enough away from civilization. Pontiac going under with G.M. Wonder how thats working out?

It is now a Honda dealership.