WWII vet battles homeowners group over flag issue

[Nagishkaw 510]

It's not like the guy's gonna be around for the next 10 or so years.

[slim 1,533]

It's not like the guy's gonna be around for the next 10 or so years.

Although I did kind of chuckle a little bit... that's just not right.

But even after he's gone, that daggone flag pole will still be there, much to the chagrin of the HOA.

[NickD 203]

If you think you own your own property, you are badly mistaken. The deed on that property is only as good as our country, if our country fails, you no longer own that land. To keep that property, only as good as your ability to pay taxes on it. If you own land with a mud puddle on it, cannot fill it due to DNR regulations for wet lands preservation. While that street in front of your home is not yours, you can be assessed to replace it. Same with that sidewalk that is not yours, you are responsible not only to replace it if a section rises more than an inch, but have to keep the ice and snow off of it, city gives you up to 24 hours to do it or you get a stiff fine.

You are not permitted to blow snow into that street, buts okay for the city snow plow to dump the entire load of street snow in your driveway. To make it even more miserable, they salt it first that dilutes so you are stuck with a huge ice bank.

You can buy property as an investment and rent it out, but no matter how strict your lease is, if your renter does not pay his rent, next to impossible to get rid of him, no judge will toss that guy out in the cold. But yet you are liable to pay property tax on that plus his utility bills plus maintain that building, and shovel the snow if he doesn't, they never sue the renter, but the landlord. If that guy wrecks your place, they won't touch him if he is dead broke. Thinking about investing your money in a home or an apartment building is no longer a good idea because of how the law is interpreted.

And if someone does break into your home, better have a couple of bullets in you before you fire back.

[slim 1,533]

If you think you own your own property, you are badly mistaken. The deed on that property is only as good as our country, if our country fails, you no longer own that land. To keep that property, only as good as your ability to pay taxes on it. If you own land with a mud puddle on it, cannot fill it due to DNR regulations for wet lands preservation. While that street in front of your home is not yours, you can be assessed to replace it. Same with that sidewalk that is not yours, you are responsible not only to replace it if a section rises more than an inch, but have to keep the ice and snow off of it, city gives you up to 24 hours to do it or you get a stiff fine.

You are not permitted to blow snow into that street, buts okay for the city snow plow to dump the entire load of street snow in your driveway. To make it even more miserable, they salt it first that dilutes so you are stuck with a huge ice bank.

You can buy property as an investment and rent it out, but no matter how strict your lease is, if your renter does not pay his rent, next to impossible to get rid of him, no judge will toss that guy out in the cold. But yet you are liable to pay property tax on that plus his utility bills plus maintain that building, and shovel the snow if he doesn't, they never sue the renter, but the landlord. If that guy wrecks your place, they won't touch him if he is dead broke. Thinking about investing your money in a home or an apartment building is no longer a good idea because of how the law is interpreted.

My wife was less than impressed once she found out how "freedom" truly works. "What do you mean we can't make fire in the park and cook sausages and drink beer and play music?" I explained we could, but only after we filed the proper permit applications, paid the right fees, then ensured compliance with local codes.

And if someone does break into your home, better have a couple of bullets in you before you fire back.

Not anymore! Castle doctrine is in full motherfuzzin-effizect here in OH-IO now. No more breaking lamps and erroneous bullet holes in the wall, dragging bodies around and hosing off the sidewalk. We're now safe and secure in our homes and property!

- Or so we're told.

[Nagishkaw 510]

You are not permitted to blow snow into that street, buts okay for the city snow plow to dump the entire load of street snow in your driveway. To make it even more miserable, they salt it first that dilutes so you are stuck with a huge ice bank.

How true!

[NickD 203]

Local control is the word they love to use, but we are only one person that has to deal with HOA, town, city, township, county, state, and federal laws. The only thing that have in common, is they all charge taxes or fees in the case of HOA.

[aidan80 9]

I'm still lost in all of this.. maybe it's just me coming from the outside in but.. The man worked, bought his house I'm sure pays his bills, taxes..etc and decides that he wants to put a flag pole up on his property and some association tells him no? If that was me I'd tell them to go fuk themselves. Seriously that's insanity he's every right to put a flag pole up.

I understand rules are rules I also understand that when rules are wrong they need to be fixed. I understand there has to be a balance between certain things.. e.g. having a bbq in the park with some music and beer vs building a bonfire in the park with a DJ and a crowd of drunken people lol. I'm shocked at the bbq in the park, here in Florida if it's covered and for cooking food most of the time no permit, typically you might need to call your local fire department to let them know your cooking if you think or if it does generate a lot of smoke. In fact a lot of parks I've been to have bbq there ready for use stuck in the ground.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

If you think you own your own property, you are badly mistaken. The deed on that property is only as good as our country, if our country fails, you no longer own that land. To keep that property, only as good as your ability to pay taxes on it. If you own land with a mud puddle on it, cannot fill it due to DNR regulations for wet lands preservation. While that street in front of your home is not yours, you can be assessed to replace it. Same with that sidewalk that is not yours, you are responsible not only to replace it if a section rises more than an inch, but have to keep the ice and snow off of it, city gives you up to 24 hours to do it or you get a stiff fine.

You are not permitted to blow snow into that street, buts okay for the city snow plow to dump the entire load of street snow in your driveway. To make it even more miserable, they salt it first that dilutes so you are stuck with a huge ice bank.

You can buy property as an investment and rent it out, but no matter how strict your lease is, if your renter does not pay his rent, next to impossible to get rid of him, no judge will toss that guy out in the cold. But yet you are liable to pay property tax on that plus his utility bills plus maintain that building, and shovel the snow if he doesn't, they never sue the renter, but the landlord. If that guy wrecks your place, they won't touch him if he is dead broke. Thinking about investing your money in a home or an apartment building is no longer a good idea because of how the law is interpreted.

And if someone does break into your home, better have a couple of bullets in you before you fire back.

This mostly true except regarding sidewalks etc. This really depends where you live and how the ordinances are written...for instance in my city maintenance of the sidewalks is the responsibility of the city. If a side walk becomes uneven etc. there are two options available. One the owner tells the city and they create a ticket for its repair...............and you wait about 5 years. Or you sign an agreement with the city that gives you access to a separate grant. Basically you pay for the repair upfront and with one year the city reimburses you for 50% of the cost.

[Danno 1,228]

I'm still lost in all of this.. maybe it's just me coming from the outside in but.. The man worked, bought his house I'm sure pays his bills, taxes..etc and decides that he wants to put a flag pole up on his property and some association tells him no? If that was me I'd tell them to go fuk themselves. Seriously that's insanity he's every right to put a flag pole up.

NOt sure why you are having trouble grasping this.

These are usually well defined areas of houses or townhouses, in which people don't want neighbors with cars up on blocks or commercial trucks stored in driveways or mismatched siding.... or peoples garages doubling for auto-body shops.

They make up these rules so that like minded people can buy into these mini communities and everyone is content, those who don't like these restrictions can find other areas where the freedom to park in your front yard or build cheesy additions are "no problem".

You agree to these rules at the closing of the sale.

I think people should see these rules BEFORE that get that far in the process.

[slim 1,533]

I think people should see these rules BEFORE that get that far in the process.

They're usually required by law to acknowledge in writing that they've read and understand the rules.

It seems in the case of the OP he had done so, and even if he hadn't, he was at least aware of the prohibition which he knowingly violated.

[Ban Hammer 13,645]

I think people should see these rules BEFORE that get that far in the process.

They're usually required by law to acknowledge in writing that they've read and understand the rules.

It seems in the case of the OP he had done so, and even if he hadn't, he was at least aware of the prohibition which he knowingly violated.

at 90, he may have alzheimer's.

[aidan80 9]

I'm still lost in all of this.. maybe it's just me coming from the outside in but.. The man worked, bought his house I'm sure pays his bills, taxes..etc and decides that he wants to put a flag pole up on his property and some association tells him no? If that was me I'd tell them to go fuk themselves. Seriously that's insanity he's every right to put a flag pole up.

NOt sure why you are having trouble grasping this.

These are usually well defined areas of houses or townhouses, in which people don't want neighbors with cars up on blocks or commercial trucks stored in driveways or mismatched siding.... or peoples garages doubling for auto-body shops.

They make up these rules so that like minded people can buy into these mini communities and everyone is content, those who don't like these restrictions can find other areas where the freedom to park in your front yard or build cheesy additions are "no problem".

You agree to these rules at the closing of the sale.

I think people should see these rules BEFORE that get that far in the process.

Am having trouble understanding why this man who's not putting cars up on blocks lol outside his house can't exercise his right to put up a pole and fly his flag form it. I do understand the other side course people don't wanna pay a lot of cash for a nice house then have someone move in and ghetto up the place but this is a flag pole.. not like he's opening up a strip club!

[slim 1,533]

He waived his rights to put up a flag pole when he moved into that area. He agreed to NOT do it.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

RICHMOND, VA. — A 90-year-old Army veteran who won the Medal of Honor during World War II is battling his neighborhood association for what he says is his right to fly the American flag from a pole in his front yard.

Col. Van T. Barfoot says he erected the 21-foot flagpole in September, raising the flag daily at sunrise and retiring it at sunset.

The Sussex Square homeowners' association told him recently that the free-standing pole violates the townhouse neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines and ordered him to remove it by 5 p.m. Friday or face a lawsuit.

"I don't have any qualms with their authority, but the thing about it is that I cannot get enough conversation out of them where we can try to work out a solution," Barfoot said Wednesday in a telephone interview.

The homeowners' association said they denied a previous request by Barfoot to erect the flagpole, but he put it up it anyway, according to a statement issued by its lawyer Sandy Bowen. The statement says Barfoot can display an American flag, as long as it's in a way that conforms with association rules.

"This is not about the American flag. This is about a flagpole," reads the statement.

Barfoot, who moved into his townhouse in June, won his medal for actions near Carano, Italy, in 1944 and is one of about 90 surviving Medal of Honor winners. He also won the Purple Heart and other decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the service in 1974.

"I've flown the flag at my home as long as I can remember," said Barfoot, who lived in rural Amelia County before moving to suburban Richmond. "This is the first time in the last 36 years that I've been unable to put my flag up on the same pole, the same staff and take it down when it's time to come down."

Neighbors largely have expressed their support, but he realizes that ultimately it's up to the nine-member association board whether they will grant an exception to the rules.

"Emotional torture is what they've done to my father," said his daughter, Margaret Nicholls. "He has lost sleep, he worries about it constantly. He just doesn't understand. He thinks that if it's on his property they can't tell him what to do."

link

The man fought Nazi's, served in Korea and Vietnam!!!! And got the P.Heart & MOH!!!! The homeowners association should have to kiss his #### upon revelry and again at Taps.

[slim 1,533]

The man fought Nazi's, served in Korea and Vietnam!!!! And got the P.Heart & MOH!!!! The homeowners association should have to kiss his #### upon revelry and again at Taps.

As much as I'd like to support that position, I can't. He's violating rules which he agreed to follow.

Now, as to why they're not making him stop.... you can probably cite the above!