BAD BAD Neighbor

mark777 · Nov 10, 2004

You guys...are devious, and I am liking it.

I just returned from the property to load up the dozer. It's raining, everything is a mess, the county held me up 2 extra days while waiting on the results of the soil sample which came back NEGATIVE of course. $750. for 6 hours (out of 3 days rental) on the dozer before I was shut down to wait.
The man who rented me the dozer also brings my fill. He is reluctant to bring more fill as the county called him about my site, the fill and where he gets it. He even suggested I take my neighbor Bow hunting.

Whiskey: Yes, I got it bad. There is a natural swail (ditch) on the property line and it would require yet another PE report for displacing soil and a permit to build a privacy fence.

Inspector: Permits are good for 180 days, but because "He" has called and I have used the fill in 3 different places, it is now (then) necessary to purchase permits for the two other sites. It would not have been necessay as I am preping everything to meet or exceed elevation flood requirements.

Bob, Yes he has horses....My heart is pounding with excitement. As I am right on top of the problem....I was not seeing the forest thru the trees...

Varmintmist.....Of course, RATS and there are many next door with more than two legs.
Ernie, I get the picture.
B7500, that is not beneath me. The distance between being civil and busting his chops is closing rapidly.

To everyone thank you for your input and advice. While I was loading the dozer on the lowboy I was considering a Jimmy Hoffa modification on the new slab. I was seriously headed for trouble as I have never had a neighbor with such a hidden agenda and the enormous chip on the shoulder as this jerk. And as for moving, I can't. It's not about the money, it's about the time and labor and the need for a country boy to get back to the country.

Regards, and I'll keep you posted, Mark

dmccarty · Nov 10, 2004

mark,

First if you have not read mdbarbs LONG and I do mean LONG thread, do so NOW. It will be an education on how bad this can get.

Since the man won't be a man.....

Pull all of the complaints from the county that you can. Its public record so you should not have any problems with getting the info. You might also contact your local law enforcement and see how many calls for service he has had over the years. Might want to check you neighbors to see if they had to call as well. See if this behavior has been an issue prior to your arrival.

Once you get this info, take it to the lawyer(s) and see what they say to do. Depending on what the lawyer(s) say, I would send a a polite, professional registered letter to the neighbor asking what his issues are regarding you improving the property. When that does not work have the lawyer(s) fire off a letter.

Hopefully you can call his bluff and that will be the end of things but then there are people like mdbarb ran into.

I have had my share of problems with neighbors over the years. It ain't fun but you can't escalate past the legal line or you loose.

Read mdbarbs thread. It will take awhile. Sit down with a few beers and read it. You won't enjoy it though....

Mdbarbs thread just popped up in the Rural discussion area,
( Help! I need legal advice re: easements )

Later,
Dan

Bob_Skurka · Nov 10, 2004

Dan, you make some excellent points and I second everything you just wrote.

Mark, let me also add one thing. YOU NEED TO BE VERY NICE AND SHOW THIS GUY HOW ABSOLUTLEY COURTEOUS AND KIND YOU CAN BE. Never, and I mean NEVER show him any anger. To his face you need to appear like a polite church going hard working honest and kind person. Behind his back & behind closed doors is when you need to consider following the other advice! But never let him see you doing anything that he could turn back around on you. As in NEVER EVER let him see that side of you in this dispute.

bontai_Joe · Nov 10, 2004

My very first thought was 5 gallons of gasoline and a well tossed road flare, but that is probably crossing the line /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'd just like to add that the horse exhaust need not be leaching across the property line to be to your advantage. It just has to be deposited near a well, for you to be able to complain. The rats in the feed, treatment of the horses, proper shelter of the horses, do they has access to clean water 24 hours a day? The SPCA can be a real ally on your side. Do you have friends with live traps? Can you release raccoons, rats, and other critters near him without being seen? As mentioned above, is every single improvement on his property recorded as having the permits issued? And I wouldn't be above inviting ALL your friends to a BBQ and asking them to dress as bikers, even if they are members of the clergy. It sounds very much like this is well past civil and polite talk is gonna do anything, so bury him in the same bull dookey he is using on you.

dmccarty · Nov 10, 2004

Bob,

What you said.

In one of my disputes with my "city" neighbors. I tried to be polite even though I really wanted to pound their collective ***. One morning I came home from spending the night at our property watching a pile of wood burn. That was not the plan but that is what I had to do. The wife had to bring me a sleeping bag and food. I was very tired, cold, smelled of smoke, dirt, sweat, diesel, and who knows what else. And I was hungry. I just wanted to see my family, take a long hot shower, get something to eat and go to sleep.

But I get home and the blanky blanks had parked a car in front of my mailbox and blocked my driveway. AGAIN. This had been going on for months. Lots of citations had been written over blocking the mailbox. We had played nice and had asked them to not block our mailbox or driveway but nice did not work. So the POlice got called. Alot.

So I get home. I walk to their front door and tried to be nice. I asked them if they would move their car so I could park in my driveway. After they took a good 5 minutes to get out of the house one of the "neighbors" came out to move the car. I was really ticked at this point since I knew they where taking there time on purpose. Well he said something to me about the car not being his yet he has the car keys in his hand and he was the one I always saw driving the car.......

That is all it took and I cussed that Thug, I'm pretty sure he was dealing drugs out of the house, up one side and down the other. He was giving me attitude and I was not in the mood for that %^&*(. He thought he was going to intimidate me and that was not a good card to play. I was NOT nice. There where neighborhood kids out and about. I should not have cussed but I surely did. And I was not using "little" cuss words either. I was using every one in my vocabulary and I have a good vocabulary. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If words can kill he would have been blown all over the neighborhood. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

He did move the car. And I don't think that car was parked there again. Others where but not that one. Mr. Thug moved out shortly after the house was "broken" into and lots of stuff stolen. The Thug moved out shortly there after. I wonder why.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I should have not cussed the guy out. But I'm human. IF he had been smart, he could have used it against me since there is a city ordinance against cussing in public. Course the officer has to witness the violation but I should not have done what I did. It did feel good though. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But if they had been videotaping me it would have been held against me just like mdbarb.....

TRY as hard as you can to be polite and professional.........

Tain't easy sometimes.....

There is more to my story with these neighbors. To end this long note, we talked with the city about code violations and such , and where about to call the owner. We did some homework before we where going to escalate. Thankfully something happened and the people causing the trouble moved away. It could have been one of our phone calls to the city or someone else called. We just don't know.

But be polite, Mr. GoodyTwoShoes and do you homework prior to escalation so you have a clue as to where things are heading or can head.

Later,
Dan

mark777 · Nov 10, 2004

Dan, I started reading upon your suggestion mdbarbs posts shortly after 2:00 pm. I just finished and rushed over here ( 3 hours later) to say my problems are miniscule by comparison. I feel grief and sorrow for him and his family.

As the months go by and my disposition is very much like mdbarbs was, I feel every attempt I have made is a waste of time. All of my original attempts to communicate with the neighbor were without the knowledge that he was the one calling the county continuosly.

This guy was just shaking my hand and peeing on my leg. I have not discussed any of the false complaints with anyone in the neighborhood.

One of my first conversations with him was if he knew where the old septic tank was located. He said sure "It's right about there by your middle fence line". After a few hours of steel rod probing, my dad found it 200' away and in the opposite direction. I turned around just in time to see him suppress a little giggle, and I walked to him and he briskly made a hasty retreat.

It has been down hill with him since. I am convinced that he needs to be visibly shaken.........maybe not physically, but I need to rattle his cage, and I am prepaired to do it with all the suggestions many have provided.

Mark

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Nov 10, 2004

How much land do you have ?? Perhaps you can form a GUN club.......Got any friends with a FFL class 3 license ?? The sound of automatic weapons can be a GREAT deterrent !! All within your legal rights to bear arms ya' know........Go get 'em!! ............Tom

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 10, 2004

I had one really bad neighbor who made the mistake of going after my daughter one day. That was it. I used every trick I knew and even invented a couple.

One of my favorites was when someone found her expired license plate on top of her trash one day (she always left her unbagged, open trash right at the property line next to my driveway). Six months later at the start of a really bad snow they removed the valid plate from her car, replaced it with the expired one, pulled it across my drive entrance and called the police to report the abandoned car with expired plates someone left blocking my drive. I thought that was pretty clever of whoever it was. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mark777 · Nov 10, 2004

Just a little over 2 acres. Allot of deer a wild pig. I am not opposed to any firearms but my property isn't big enough to support any gun club. Interesting idea though.

mark777 · Nov 10, 2004

Geeze, if it would only snow down here. I will put a stop to it, and that will be getting even enough. Not sure how just yet but the wheels are in motion.

Going after one of the children is crossing the line. All mine are grown, but I have dogs (4) and of course he has cats, several.

JimR · Nov 10, 2004

Mark777,

Good thing he is not my neighbor. Call the health department and tell them that you have seen rats at dusk coming from his property.
Setup a range in your back yard and buy a semi auto .223 if you don't own one. I'm sure this will stir up his horses real well. Make sure you go over and tell him to put his ear plugs in first. Don't ever tell him that you know he is the as-hole calling the inspector on you. The release wild animals in his yard is a great idea. Skunks would be really nice to let loose on him. Drop off a paper bag full of **** on his doorstep at night. Light it on fire, ring the doorbell and run like ****. Brake fluid poured over his car will work wonders on his personality, not to mention what it will do to his paint job. You have had so many good ideas from the guys here it funny. I think the bikers parties would scare the **** out of this guy. Maybe you could send a few over to his door to invite him over for a few beers. Make sure they are grubby looking bikers with long hair and beards.

johnday · Nov 10, 2004

Can I help? I've got long hair and a beard, but don't ride anymore. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I could bring some guys I know that still do though. And I suppose I could go a few days without a shower if the price was right. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

mark777 · Nov 10, 2004

Don't forget you guys, I am a retired Harley painter.....so I know many who would join in on a phone call. But this problem needs a little something different, more one on one.
Thanks for your input as I am considering all angles.
Mark

btolle · Nov 10, 2004

I sent you a PM.

Birdhunter1 · Nov 11, 2004

Go to a biker bar and say that you will buy all the beer theycandrik in one night and invite them out to your place only on the condidtion that they get drunked up and pay him a visit. Drunk bikers can get pretty rowdy.
If he has horses complain about the stinch coming from them and such. They may not actually stink but whoever you call doesn't kow that.

bgott · Nov 11, 2004

I have the same problem with a piece of property I own in Channelview. I had the local snitch call the state to make sure there was a permit pulled to move a mobile home that was a total wreck. I thought the cops were going to make them put the thing back. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif The one that really set me off was when the inspector ran off a crew I had filling a 40 yard dumpster because I didn't have a permit. I checked around to see if I needed one and found out I didn't, then I got him out there again and explained the situation to him in terms I'm sure he understood. He just stood there crying about getting a "complaint". If there is no permit required it would seem to indicate to a person of even modest intelligence that the complaint is unfounded, NO ACTION NECESSARY!!! Some folks can't handle empowerment. Counties in Texas didn't have any code enforcement authority until they dreamt up this phony "Flood Control" BS and now they are milking it for all it's worth. You also might see if you can find out the relationship between the complaintant and the inspector. Sometimes things aren't what they seem, you might be getting screwed on that end. City of Houston inspectors are notorious for being corrupt, if you were in the city you could probably come to an agreement. Strike that, you would probably try the only honest inspector in the county. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Besides, since the city put satellite navigation trackers in their cars to make sure they actually visit the jobsites you can't just go to the local bar and give them a Benji to sign off on the inspection. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Another course of action would be to line up everything you need to do the job to show up on a Saturday and just do it. Once it's done it's a little hard for them to make you undo it. That was the way they did it when I lived in Florida. The code called for a 24 inch slab for a machine shop we were building. We poured it 18 inches and the inspectors showed up 3 days later and drilled holes to measure it. Later I was told that the fine was about $10,000 less than it would have cost to do it to code. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Another thing to do, run your neighbor's name through the Texas *** Offender Registry. You might get lucky and get a hit, think of the fun you could have with that! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ByronBob · Nov 11, 2004

From someone who has had neighbor problems, If talking does not help, consider finding someplace else to live.

I grew up this way also. My dad had a long running feud with the neighbor next door. They called the law on each other all the time. Actually they yanked my dad out of bed at 1am on a citation for harrasment with the neighbor.

We couldn't go outside in the front yard when they were out ect.....I think you get the idea. If you can't get along enough to be cordial and you don't want to try then my suggestion is move. The time, effort, aggrivation just isn't a way to live. The earth is big enough to find some more of it.

Because of the way we were brought up I make painful efforts to be nice to all my neighbors to keep the peace. Dogs running in the yard, noise to a limit are all things that could get me upset but I remember the other side of the fence.

DocHeb · Nov 11, 2004

( Another course of action would be to line up everything you need to do the job to show up on a Saturday and just do it. Once it's done it's a little hard for them to make you undo it. That was the way they did it when I lived in Florida. The code called for a 24 inch slab for a machine shop we were building. We poured it 18 inches and the inspectors showed up 3 days later and drilled holes to measure it. Later I was told that the fine was about $10,000 less than it would have cost to do it to code. )

Not hard at all - just get out the concrete jackhammers. Around here, you would have to add-in the $$$cost$$$ of ripping out all the 18" concrete and replacing it with 24", in addition to the fine. Non-code production is not allowed to remain, despite a fine being paid.

roho · Nov 11, 2004

Hold up JohnDay! Don't make de trip. I already live in SEast Tex & have 77 Glide, Blk t shirts, 6" pony tail on chin(Yes beard)! & JohnDay, it's all platium blonde(GRAY GRAY GRAY)!!! "TAKE A SHOWER" Who mentioned taking a shower! Oh I may have to re think this contract oh I mean JOB!! AND Dude, Down here in GODS country, I'd check to see who that fool is KIN to" Sounds like he may be getting some inside info & that's the way it works down here! We do got the GOOD OLE BOY SNYDROME! Kin to ??? some political correct inbread fool! Sorry for bacslid AGAIN! Well better go let ya'll simmer on dis a while! BTW BIG Swap MEET @ GorgeRBrown dis very weekend! R is it! later roho /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

mark777 · Nov 11, 2004

I respectfully disagree.

My intentions are to move my aging parents who live just a few miles away, to this beautiful little piece of land. I have helped remodel their house and they can list the property for sale anytime they want...and they like the idea of moving to this property (and I can keep an eye of them due to health issues).

My house (in another town) is almost ready to list.
Parents house is ready to list....if they exercise that option.

I have spent countless hours in planing, labor, materials and money. I am sure I could list the property and break even or perhaps make a little, but I cannot re-coop the last 2 years of my life trying to do the decent things for my family. And all because of one insignificant little weasel stirring the proverbial pot and who's "high" in life is creating grief.

BTW I have never said one unkind word, raised my voice, or done anything to indicate I am anything less than a good neighbor. Lately (last few months), I HAVE tried to catch him and confront him, but by his actions and deliberate retreats, he acts very guilty or paranoid by my presence.

Thanks as I do respect your opinions and hope you understand mine.

Mark