Posted on 07/26/2015 9:48:38 AM PDT by Rebelbase
on July 22, Joe Graham from Air Compliance is writing a complaint form for “objectionable odor” from Jordan’s property where he was barbecuing. A neighbor living across the street called to complain, as she has apparently done many times before.
This time she found a willing co-conspirator.
“I can smell it again right now, but I’m on your property,” Graham tells the group. “You’re allowed to have it smell on your property, so that doesn’t count, but when I’m on the street, that’s when it counts.”
“So we’re supposed to control the smoke and the wind and where it’s blowing it?” he asks.
The Environmental Specialist says, “What you’re doing looks like it may be counter to the rule as far as the objectionable odor,” as he looks at his clipboard for reassurance.
“You have smoke leaving…that’s prohibited. I saw smoke leaving your property.” So he’s going to “write it up and send it to our department.”
The ridiculous nature of this visit results from the fact that in Pinellas County, “Commercial barbecue cookers are not exempt from causing a nuisance odor,”. It is part of a larger set of rules regarding air quality, normally reserved for things like asbestos and trash burning.
However, Mr. Jordan should have nothing to fear. The Frequently Asked Questions goes further to state, “If a sufficient number of complaints, representing different households, are reported and an Inspector witnesses the problem, they can issue a Warning Letter.”
According to this, he could not get a Warning Letter unless more than one neighbor complained. And this is unlikely to happen, since, according to Jordan, “Everybody else cooks out around here.”
The cameraman says, “We’ve been living here for 40 years, and this is the first time this happened.”
He is referring to the visit from Air Compliance. Since the neighbor moved in three years ago and began complaining, she has called the police and fire departments. “They tell me to go ahead on” and keep barbecuing, according to Jordan.
Graham has an answer for this too. “The police and the fire department are looking at different parts of the rule.”
And so continues the endless splitting of hairs, red herrings, and absence of common sense that characterizes nanny state bureaucracies
I believe the “guilty party” is a Black person.
Gotta tell ya, this is one situation where I would really wonder if this was being pushed because I was black.
If the guy was running a business, that would be one thing. How long does your BBQ remain on when you’re cooking up a batch? One hour max?
This is one great neighbor filing a complaint like that.
Then the guy with his code book comes and explains that it’s okay to have BBQ smell on your own property, but you can let that smell go out to the street or onto your neighbor’s property.
Honestly folks, BBQs are perhaps one of the most American things you can do. It’s just a completely normal thing to do as an American. Here this guy is doing it, and all of a sudden it’s a citable offense.
If my neighbor had great smelling BBQ wafting over onto my property I’d thank them, and probably hint a lot...
It’s Florida.Today’s insane,bitchy neighbor is tomorrow’s alligator scat.
Bingo. ROFL!
“How long does your BBQ remain on when you’re cooking up a batch? One hour max?”
3 hours or so for ribs, All day for Brisket or Pork Shoulder.
Evidently, things have not changed much.
Government! Any questions. California, for example, have many of these local jackasses that have their heads up their butt. Educated fools.
Check out the responses (scroll way down) to this homemade outdoor, wood-burning oven:
Pickup truck, tarp, lonely country road. Job done.
Forgot the shovel.
don’t need no shovel if it’s next to a gator swamp.....fresh and juicy is like cherries jubilee to them gators :0)
“If my neighbor had great smelling BBQ wafting over onto my property I’d thank them, and probably hint a lot...”
One of the most satisfying things about smoking meat on drifting winds is knowing it’s driving my neighbor’s crazy with the smell.
OMG !!
In todays world, I don’t get to say this very often, but on this — “I stand with the barbecuing Black guy.” LOL
I bet you can smell that wrinkled old broad’s perfume from 5’ away.
His last comment to the law enforcement guy cracked me up. :)
The barbecuing Black guy kept his cool very well.I would have whistled for the dogs half way into the doughboy’s speech.
BLOCK PARTY!
Yep! Organize the neighborhood. Close off
the street and have all those who can bring
their grills out front do so one afternoon.
Everybody shares their food, and comradary.
A week or so before the function take a large
platter of your own BBQ over to the neighborhood
witch.
Oh, just in case...prepare plates of “to goes” for
any law enforcement who may show up.
Second option would be to have your block party
at a nearby park. Invite the neighborhood shrew.
If this doesn’t work at least she has isolated
herself further.
Great plan!
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