Hutchinson, Kansas, is Worst American City

Janitor's view ^ | 12/31/18 | Reasonmclucus

[kathsua]

I used to have a flower garden in my backyard. A few years ago I decided to move my flowers to the front yard so my neighbors could enjoy them. I found that I could keep some them blooming in the winter by surrounding them with water in containers and covering them with transparent tarps. On warm days I uncover them so can enjoy the ones that are still green or even blooming. They often begin growing again in early March so they are doing well by the end of April. A week before Christmas I got a letter from the city Grinch John Vetter (620) 259-4108 that I had get rid of things he didn't like including the tarps and the chair I sit in by Christmas eve. I thought he would have to take me to could take any of my property. Then on Dec. 29 I got a letter saying he would send someone to confiscate anything he personally didn't think I should have in my yard on Jan. 3. https://www.hutchgov.com/ city hall (620) 694-2610

[Blue Jays]

"...tarps and chairs in the front yard..."

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Let’s see a pic of the specific property mentioned in the article so there can be a more meaningful discussion.

[Delta 21]

Are there homeless encampments in Hutchinson, KS?

[cornfedcowboy]

You want want to buy property in an area that is zoned. Maybe you build your retirement home and the following year a dog food plant opens
Up next door.

[mkleesma]

It’s considered bad form by polite society to doxx people you don’t agree with.

[DCBryan1]

a few years back (6 or 7?), the local town code “officer” knocked on my door, said he was there to inspect my basement. why says I? proper egress he says, finished basements require 2 ways out. why do you think I have a finished basement I ask. he says lot’s of people in the neighborhood do. that doesn’t mean I do I reply. he says “that’s why I am her to inspect” I ask for a warrant. he says he doesn’t need a warrant. I ask if the law requires I follow this code, he says yes. I say that makes you law enforcement - which means you cannot enter w/o a warrant, for which you need probable cause. he left and never returned. BTW, my basement was finished at this time, including 2 means of egress....

Bears repeating: GET A WARRANT

[IgnaciKat]

I think the proper course of action is to question the authority of confiscation. You do this by requesting in writing the exact citation of the code you are allegedly violating, and the exact details of why you are in violation. Also include informing you of the sections on decision-making and appeal processes. Any photographic evidence taken should be part of your request. It goes without saying that you should have your own exhibits ready if you are determined to fight it. This will probably be too much work and he is likely to go away quietly. Many times all an inspector needs to justify his job is to make a cursory inspection and document his visit.

Most of these things are complaint-driven. Oddly enough, most codes protect the accuser and give you no right to confront the person nor to negotiate. So it’s up to you, if in fact the ordinance appears to apply to you, to wear the other shoe and see if you can figure out how to ameliorate the situation.

Maybe one or more of your neighbors do not agree that your flower arranging is what you think it is. In which case, you should consider the easy route and move it all back to your back yard, especially if there seems to be some validity to the inspector’s claim.

In no case should you or your allies doxx the guy. You should quietly remove that from your blog IMHO. If after reading the code(s) you think you have a case, then follow the procedure. Expect it to take some time, like months.

Contacting elected officials should only be done in public sessions. They are instructed not to reply to ex-officio requests or demands in all jurisdictions that I know of, with penalties for them if ignored.

Old saying: you can’t fight city hall. You can, but it’s likely to be frustrating and interfere with your enjoyment.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Since when is FR your personal army? Grow up

[wardaddy]

Local government poses biggest threat to freedom.

Right now you’d better be focused instead on humblegunner..lol

[bgill]

The flower guy should get the local newspaper or “on your side” tv reporter out to do a story. If not before the storm troopers arrive then at the same time so the inspector gets his mug on tv. Exposing cockroaches to the light, don’t cha know.

Shame on the posters who got snotty on this. Maybe they enjoy living in HOAs with Mrs. Kravitz as their neighbor.

[Blue Jays]

"...Maybe it is time to keep them in the backyard..."

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It gets tiresome when people with over-the-top inflatable Christmas displays lazily keep dozens of them deflated on their front yards until late-March or early-April. Talk about u-g-l-y for the neighborhood!

[Blue Jays]

Oops. Inadvertently pinged DCBryan1 instead of DCPatriot as was intended. Oh, well. Happy New Year!

[bigbob]

Put the flowers back in your backyard and move on. Pick your battles.

[Mears]

Ditto! Much ado about nothing,

.

[RegulatorCountry]

Municipalities can and do impose ridiculous regulations upon properties within their jurisdiction. Back when I was looking for a move-up house in the early 2000’s, I’d found a really great mid-century house, classic low-slung, deep eaves, u-shaped plan opening to the rear with a kidney-shaped Gunnite pool. Radiant heat, just a really comfortable place with great flow in an appealing neighborhood, Old Starmount. Then, I start finding out about what the city can and cannot do. Cut a tree down, they’ll force you to replace it. Trim your crepe myrtles “incorrectly” and they’ll fine you. They actually have people driving around looking for this. No thanks. I still regret not buying that house, I loved it. But, I know myself. I couldn’t deal with the tree nazis.

[DCBryan1]

Just had a co worker read this thread. He said we both missed the point.

Your "officer" was not there to check on 2 egress points!

He was there to see if you had a finished basement in which they could tax as livable space!

[rockrr]

Nicely done.

Years ago I was living in more modest circumstances but still trying to live my version of the American dream. For me that meant building hotrods. I had my ‘37 Chevy pickup quartered in a garage I built that wasn’t visible to anyone not on my property (unless a neighbor craned her neck out her bathroom window).

One day I got a visit from some officious twerp from the city who claimed that I had “abandoned vehicles” in violation of the city’s various ordinances. “They must be moved or we’ll move then!” he exclaimed. I tried to reason with him - you ever try reasoning with a leftist? It doesn’t work.

He insisted that he would be back in seven days to “inspect”. I invited him to bring a warrant.

Apparently his chief complaint was that my old truck didn’t have current plates on it. So I winched it onto my car trailer - which was currently registered. When the twerp came back he fumed about the truck still being there and still unregistered but because it was no longer on the ground on my property he was powerless to do anything about it.

[ridesthemiles]

There isn’t a single race car in the USA that has registration plates.

I know where there is an old barn—dates back to the late 1880’s. What isn’t visible is that another NEW, waterproof barn has been built INSIDE the old barn. Classic cars & Hot rods in there. But outside looks just like an old barn. IT won’t fall down due to it’s age. It has been fastened to the new building INSIDE.

[Blue Jays]

"...new barn INSIDE and old barn OUTSIDE..."

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That is awesome and totally a cool way to keep valuable things safe and secure. That is a terrific story!

[FreedomPoster]

I’d be OK with those getting a warning on January 2nd, and a citation on the 15th if not removed.

[TXnMA]

"It’s considered bad form by polite society to doxx people you don’t agree with."

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It appears that your target should have been delta 21, instead of kathsua.

Otherwise, I agree vehemently with your obervation/admonition...

("Netizen" since before the WWW existed...)
TXnMA