As I watch the first snow of the season drifting down over the meadow below, I am reminded it is deer season by the horde of orange-vested people streaming across our property. Some plop down on the railroad tracks within site of the house, just waiting to shoot. Maybe I just don't understand, but I don't see how much of a sport or fun that is. It's not as though I haven't hunted. I have. It just wasn't as part of an army, or in someone's back yard.
The issue over the road has gotten deeper and more convoluted than we ever imagined. And it still drags on. We are slated to go to court in a couple of weeks. That is, unless they delay it again. While I would never wish this frustration and strife on anyone, I must say that we have met some wonderful people in the process — people we would never have met otherwise.
So as the holidays approach, we wish you the best.
May you find contentment, joy, love, and happiness. May the hunters stay out of your yard, and the greedy stay out of your life.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, July 20, 2009
A walk on the wild side
While we wait for a court date, we spend a lot of time looking out at the trees and land that will succumb to Mr. Hayes' bulldozers if we lose. A couple of mature turkeys have started strolling across the meadow with two little and one immature turkeys in tow. They are fun to watch. The list of wayward animals that have come to call this little space home is growing.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Commissioners let road go through
First, we want to thank everyone for their support throughout this ordeal.
Second, we lost.
The county commissioners announced today that they will deny our petition to prevent Mr. Hayes from building a road through the property. It was heartbreaking to listen to them vote to deny the petition. The motion was made by Larry Payne and seconded by Mark Sullivan. Then three votes to deny. Now the question is when the bulldozers arrive.
If there is anything to learn from all of this, and there are many things, one is that greed is alive and well. It is amazing that one man, with the aid of public officials, would do this to a family just to make money. Another lesson is that neither the surveyor, nor the local attorney who did the "title search ," nor the previous owner who knew about and did not disclose the problem are liable. None of them are required, or expected, to discover or disclose such information.
So the township trustees will saddle the taxpayers with paying for maintenance of a road into Mr. Hayes property. We will lose a bunch of trees, a level of privacy, and a good deal of value in our house.
Second, we lost.
The county commissioners announced today that they will deny our petition to prevent Mr. Hayes from building a road through the property. It was heartbreaking to listen to them vote to deny the petition. The motion was made by Larry Payne and seconded by Mark Sullivan. Then three votes to deny. Now the question is when the bulldozers arrive.
If there is anything to learn from all of this, and there are many things, one is that greed is alive and well. It is amazing that one man, with the aid of public officials, would do this to a family just to make money. Another lesson is that neither the surveyor, nor the local attorney who did the "title search ," nor the previous owner who knew about and did not disclose the problem are liable. None of them are required, or expected, to discover or disclose such information.
So the township trustees will saddle the taxpayers with paying for maintenance of a road into Mr. Hayes property. We will lose a bunch of trees, a level of privacy, and a good deal of value in our house.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Tuesday is the day
We have been notified that the commissioners will announce their decision on Tuesday.
I stand in the twilight watching the lightning bugs dip and glow in the mist across the meadow and try to understand what has happened and why. The fight to preserve this house and land has cost us both money and emotion. It has hurt our children. All because one man wants to make more money.
Through this ordeal we have come to understand the power of one developer, the interconnectedness of public officials, and the lack of influence the common person has in the system. On the other hand, we have met some wonderful people and appreciate the outpouring of support. The other day a man and his wife stopped on the road to say how much they felt sorry for us and hoped that the commissioners would save the property. Another common person resigned to the lack of influence average people have in decisions made in the "public good."
So we wait. Given the influence Mr. Hayes has in this town I can't imagine the news will be good. Yet, we hope against hope — we pray for a miracle. Maybe this once, public officials will do what is best for common people and protect us from the bulldozers of the mighty.
I stand in the twilight watching the lightning bugs dip and glow in the mist across the meadow and try to understand what has happened and why. The fight to preserve this house and land has cost us both money and emotion. It has hurt our children. All because one man wants to make more money.
Through this ordeal we have come to understand the power of one developer, the interconnectedness of public officials, and the lack of influence the common person has in the system. On the other hand, we have met some wonderful people and appreciate the outpouring of support. The other day a man and his wife stopped on the road to say how much they felt sorry for us and hoped that the commissioners would save the property. Another common person resigned to the lack of influence average people have in decisions made in the "public good."
So we wait. Given the influence Mr. Hayes has in this town I can't imagine the news will be good. Yet, we hope against hope — we pray for a miracle. Maybe this once, public officials will do what is best for common people and protect us from the bulldozers of the mighty.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Waiting
Well, today is the day. The county commissioners are suppose to announce their decision this afternoon. The stress is terrible.
We have tried to let help the commissioners understand that the township trustees have a motion tabled to allow Mr. Hayes to bulldoze a 40-foot wide path through our yard. They are only waiting for the commissioners to deny our petition to turn him loose. In all, Mr. Hayes will take over an acre and a half out of the middle of our property. Instead of the open meadow where children play, we will have a mess much like Mr. Hayes has created along Highway 56 and on the hillside across from Wal Mart. It just doesn’t seem right.
If you want to call the commissioners today, if you have time to say they should stand up for the small homeowner, please do before this afternoon. By then, it might be too late.
We have tried to let help the commissioners understand that the township trustees have a motion tabled to allow Mr. Hayes to bulldoze a 40-foot wide path through our yard. They are only waiting for the commissioners to deny our petition to turn him loose. In all, Mr. Hayes will take over an acre and a half out of the middle of our property. Instead of the open meadow where children play, we will have a mess much like Mr. Hayes has created along Highway 56 and on the hillside across from Wal Mart. It just doesn’t seem right.
If you want to call the commissioners today, if you have time to say they should stand up for the small homeowner, please do before this afternoon. By then, it might be too late.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A Lesson in Courage
We want to thank all of the people who have spoken out against the potential destruction of our property. We deeply appreciate your continued support, in ways you can't even imagine. We never anticipated that trying to save our place would cause such a political firestorm. But, while this immediate issue effects our property, should the commissioners allow the road to re-open for Mr. Hayes it could set a very dangerous precedent for many other property owners, especially those in rural, developable areas.
One thing we have definitely learned about this week - COURAGE. It takes courage to fight. It takes courage to ask for help. It takes courage to stand up to powerful people. It takes courage to take action. It takes courage to make good decisions, even when the backlash is fast and fierce. And loud. And threatening. Courage lasts you a lifetime. It leaves you with little regret. And when this is all over, we would much rather be the people left with courage, rather than the people left with something they took from another family.
One thing we have definitely learned about this week - COURAGE. It takes courage to fight. It takes courage to ask for help. It takes courage to stand up to powerful people. It takes courage to take action. It takes courage to make good decisions, even when the backlash is fast and fierce. And loud. And threatening. Courage lasts you a lifetime. It leaves you with little regret. And when this is all over, we would much rather be the people left with courage, rather than the people left with something they took from another family.
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