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Post by einebierbitte on Aug 1, 2007 13:05:29 GMT -4
Ok, So I own this property, just over a year now. Am really happy with my property, location etc.....except for the overgrown, lot nearby
I contacted the homeowner association and asked them if there was anything that could be done about this lot, there are 2 abandoned vehicles and now a riding lawn-mower just sitting there being taking over by the overgrowth. Not only is it unsightly, but it's a breeding place for crazy critters and etc. Could they force the landowner to mow this property down or could the county do something.
The HOA replied that the county won't do anything about it, and they have asked the land owner to mow it down in the past, but always seem to have problems. Whatever.
Then the landowner told me one day when I was out getting the mail that the county came by and told them that he had to either get rid of the vehicles or tag, and inspect them other wise he would be fined and the vehicles carted off....(this was back in May) But he said NO ONE TELLS HIM WHAT TO DO EXCEPT FOR HIS MOMMA and she died years ago and the county could kiss his butt.
Each day the overgrowth is bigger, the critters are multiplying and it really does take away from the property values of everyone nearby....
Short of hiring a mowerthingy whatchamacallit and doing it myself, is there anything else that I can do. I am not going to confront the landowner, cause in truth he scares me ,(and many of you know my sweetie is in the sandbox for awhile). I have already contacted the HOA and I guess they are dealing with it in there own way......
Should I just wait and see, or is there another course of action that I could take?
Or should I just blow it off and go on with my life. (the only thing that bothers me is the critters, and the fact that I have a cat that occasionally escapes outside).
But I also noticed the other day on my walk around the block for exercise that people are starting to throw trash there as well.
That's just wrong!! Anyway...What would you do?
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Post by melissa on Aug 1, 2007 14:35:53 GMT -4
This might be a long shot, or completely wrong, but don't all vehicles have to be tagged/registered? Can't the county or the HOA just have them towed?
**Edited to add that I just re-read what you wrote, and I guess that has been addressed, just not enforced.
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Post by qtboyforlife on Aug 1, 2007 15:16:43 GMT -4
Check you HOA paperwork, you should have got a copy of it during settlement. If they require you to keep your lawn under a certain height and matain a certain appearance it's fully in the HOA power to enforce it. If the land owner doesn't abide by the rules the HOA can hire someone to "Clean-up" the property and charge it back to the land owner. If they don't pay up the HOA prob can file a lean and ultimatly take over the property. It all depends on how detailed the HOA rules are. If your talking about Cloverfields or Bay City (which is what it sounds like) then your pretty much screwed.
The county's power as far as tagged vehicles ends at the property line, and unless it's specific about the rules HOA is S.O.L. as well.
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Post by moosie on Aug 1, 2007 15:34:39 GMT -4
if you are afraid of him, i don;t think you should mow the place yourself! anyway, it is not your property, so that would be trespassing. the hoa should deal with it. are the other neighbors upset by this, too? you should together complain to the hoa, and keep complaining, until someone decides to enforce the rules. i suppose they could place a lien on the property, if he does not pay the charges for any cleanup they do. otherwise, learn to live with critters--they have to live somewhere--keep your kitty close by. i think there are regs about registering vehicles, else everyone can have a car dump. the county should come back and see that his is in noncompliance and proceed further.
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Post by outlaw on Aug 1, 2007 15:49:33 GMT -4
I thought the county allowed no more than one untagged vehicle on your property? Maybe that's changed.
Calling won't do any good; they will just claim you haven't called. Been there. If you can e-mail the county zoning nitwits and your HOA, you would have your complaint in writing, and send copies to the county administrator and all commissioners so they can see that, as usual, the employees paid by our tax dollars are not doing their jobs. If there is any fuel leaking out of anything, you could send a copy to MDE. The more people you pester, the more likely it is something will be done.
Good luck.
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Post by einebierbitte on Aug 1, 2007 16:02:13 GMT -4
Well I can definately email, snail mail, smoke signal, telegraph, morse code, tap dance with the best of them. I will try that!! I would never ever dream of brush-hogging someone's property with out their consent or me being paid for it, lol...I am not that industrial...... I looked thru the HOA laws, and couldn't find anything applicable, other than not cutting down trees or somehting like that, nothing about the height of the grass.... And critters (the four legged kind) really don't bother me......It's the slithering kind (and I just had to pay mega bucks to have 2 HUGE of them slithering kinds removed from my crawl space..... I am not saying that the forest across the street caused them to come visit me, by no means....I just don't want any of their relatives to come looking for them. Because I am more afraid of snakes than anything else, even if they are harmless (non poisenous)..I am flat out afraid, frightened, woosied out by them!!! Great now I am going to have nightmares about snakes again!! LOL!!! Oh well!! I will try the email and letter writing campaign and see what happens. Oh the HOA was very prompt in getting back with me, and if they have spoken to the land owner, I don't know, but apparantly they have problems with this every year... If this was in our old HOA neighborhood, their house would have been confiscated by now......That HOA was like living in Occupied Berlin on the East side!!! Thanks for the advise!!!! You guys rock n roll!!!
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Post by mikey on Aug 1, 2007 16:15:41 GMT -4
I vote talk to the home owner. Explain your motives for concern. And offer to lend a hand.
If he is such a jerk that he wont cooperate, shake the dust off and forget about it.
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Post by bchevy on Aug 1, 2007 17:06:19 GMT -4
I wouldn't contact the owner, his statement above tells you it wont work.
The HOA "Should" be able to help, the county DOES have a limit of untagged cars on aproperty, not sure of the # though..
Maybe hang some "free take me" signs on the cars and mower?
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Post by outlaw on Aug 1, 2007 18:12:18 GMT -4
I don't think I'd try to talk to the owner. People who are so inconsiderate of neighbors that they keep their property in terrible condition are bound to be unreasonable at best and possibly hostile. And if you do talk to him and then have to get the county out there anyway, he'll know who complained. If he's really scary you could ask to remain anonymous.
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Post by lynn on Aug 1, 2007 21:01:46 GMT -4
spray grass killer on everything at night!
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Post by Guest on Aug 2, 2007 0:58:14 GMT -4
Go the cheap and environment friendly way. Buy a bunch of white vinegar or even stronger pickling vinegar and spray it over there. It may stink for a few days but it will kill the grass.
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Post by Sean on Aug 2, 2007 9:04:23 GMT -4
I will apologize in advance for the lengthy email, but I think it might provide some help. I dealt with a neighbor who neglected his property in Baltimore City. Try contacting the health department of QA County - and make sure you do it in writing (email will work). Clearly identify the problems with your neighbor's property but highlight the fact that you feel there is a safety and health concern. This kind of language sends up a red flag to government agencies. In other words, they feel they may get sued if they don't at least answer your inquiry and someone later on gets hurt. But make sure you stress the safety aspect of the problem. If the health dept cannot help, they will more likely be able to put you into contact with someone who can. And don't take no for an answer.
And in case anyone was wondering, my old neighbor was given a few months to clean up his yard. When he didn't, the city filed criminal charges against him.
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Post by mikey on Aug 2, 2007 13:32:32 GMT -4
I disagree. If you have a dispute with someone, you owe it to them to try and work it out before tattling.
That said, it sounds like maybe she has spoken to him already. If she is confident that she has done her due diligence face-to-face ... then sure. Escalate away.
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Post by kl on Aug 2, 2007 14:54:42 GMT -4
Doesn't sound like a dispute Mikey. Sounds as if she has a neighbor who could care less what his property looks like, as far as the neighborhood goes. My thought would be the HOA to step in and enforce their guidelines, and bylaws on this neighbor. Then again, what good are HOA's anyway? I kind of dislike having some association telling me what color to paint my house, to how high my fence can be.
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Post by bchevy on Aug 2, 2007 17:06:23 GMT -4
I disagree. If you have a dispute with someone, you owe it to them to try and work it out before tattling. That said, it sounds like maybe she has spoken to him already. If she is confident that she has done her due diligence face-to-face ... then sure. Escalate away. Does anyone actually READ before they post? or am I the only one who saw this in the FIRST POST?: They spoke, He KNOWS, He Doesn't Care..... so WHY contact him and put a face in his sights? GEEEZO WHIZ!
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 2, 2007 20:51:34 GMT -4
CHEEZO WHIZ is better!!
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Post by bchevy on Aug 2, 2007 20:59:38 GMT -4
CHEEZO WHIZ is better!! I saw that RIGHT after it posted, but I just KNEW you'd pick it up! ;D
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 3, 2007 5:49:20 GMT -4
*bows*
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Post by mikey on Aug 3, 2007 12:05:52 GMT -4
Apparently, no, they don't read. If you did, you would have seen my reference to her speaking to the guy.
But her account doesnt mention any indication that she shared with him how she felt. Read it again if you didnt get it the first time.
All I am saying is that she owes it to him to share her concern first. If that has been done (and its not clear whether it has or hasnt), then she is free to escalate. IMHO.
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Post by bchevy on Aug 3, 2007 13:19:29 GMT -4
With a comeback like
"NO ONE TELLS HIM WHAT TO DO EXCEPT FOR HIS MOMMA and she died years ago and the county could kiss his butt"
He could care less, In THIS case she doesn't owe him anything.
In a Different case, a different response. This one should be over.
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Post by shorti on Aug 3, 2007 14:43:48 GMT -4
Amen!!
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Post by moosie on Aug 3, 2007 15:04:21 GMT -4
grammar police again--you guys mean to say "he COULDN'T care less." not could. think about it. ;-)
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Post by Ann on Aug 3, 2007 15:16:11 GMT -4
u oh-moosie-the pot's going to have something to say about that!! :0
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Post by bchevy on Aug 3, 2007 20:32:21 GMT -4
grammar police again--you guys mean to say "he COULDN'T care less." not could. think about it. ;-) Ahh.... could, couldn't, I can't speak for the guy so I really don't know if he could OR couldn't care less. If my grammer is the best you can do, my job is DONE!
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Post by moosie on Aug 3, 2007 20:45:08 GMT -4
it's my mission in life--what can i say! i already gave my opinion earlier on the subject, anyway. at least you know you are being read, right! hey--what is that remark on the bottom of your comments--something about thicker skin! ;D
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