Hello all,
My "behind the times," township, (Bangor, Bay County, Michigan,) is still proceeding to charge me, (in court,) with violation of their "blight" ordinance! I own five boats, (all of which are now stowed for the winter on my 80' x 60' asphalt "parking pad,") and only eight chickens, in a "way over-sized" coop. I had 18 chickens back in 2016, and the "then" township code-enforcement person cited me for "keeping livestock," in violation of township ordinance "blah, blah, blah." So, being a 100% combat-disabled veteran, I was given a letter from both my V.A. psychologist and therapist stating: Keeping chickens as "support animals" is essential to the veteran's continued recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder, manic depression, survivor's guilt, and bi-polar disorder. It also gives him a reason to "get out of bed" in the morning, instead of worsening his sensitive psychological condition by over-sleeping. I "hand-delivered" a copy of that letter to the "then" township code-enforcement official, (essentially telling him to "put that in your pipe and smoke it," and I never heard back from them...until now!
Before I started keeping chickens in 2016, I asked all of my neighbors, (even three houses away,) if they had any objection to my housing chickens in a coop attached to my garage? They all voiced no objections, until now. As you may have guessed, I have not only a new neighbor, but also a new township code-enforcement officer. He cited me in violation of having "too many" recreational vehicles, (from a 30-foot houseboat, down to a 14-foot fishing boat,) and keeping "unauthorized" livestock. I spoke to him by phone, and informed him of the letter from 2016, to which he quickly replied, they have "no record" of any such letter! So, I simply asked my V.A. psychiatrist, (the same one who penned the original letter,) if he could send me a similar one, which he did. I again "hand-delivered" the letter to the township supervisor, and kindly requested that he make a copy and return the original to me. (He instead summoned two of his co-workers into a side office, out of my line of sight.) After five minutes of their unintelligible "discussion," I asked the receptionist to summon him back. I informed him that (according to my attorney,) mine is a case of "past precedent," which means if you've permitted something in the past, you cannot suddenly prohibit it in the present. As soon as I mentioned my attorney's name, (he's very well-known in Bay County,) his "attitude" took a complete 180! He said our "township counsel" will be "reaching out" (what an over-used phrase,) to you. So, I ambled off with my walker, and my original copy in hand, stating, "It's a done deal...past precedent rules...don't expect to see me in court!"
Now, I've received a court order, demanding that I appear in court on both the "blight," (too many boats?,) and "keeping livestock" violations. I am tempted to ignore their summons, as I don't think a judge would issue an arrest warrant for a 68-year-old, decorated, (four purple hearts...and still...one "broken,") 100% combat-disabled veteran, (who is sitting in a wheelchair as he writes this tome,) recovering from a broken pelvis and left hip, due to an accident in late August of this year. Should I even bother to show up in court? I only have one eye, and cannot see well enough with my remaining one to hold a driver's license. Which means I have to use either my part-time housekeeper/caregiver at my expense or take an expensive taxi ride to and from the courthouse. Any sincere advice or opinions are greatly welcome.
With every great wish, I remain,
Zhevotnya
P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to you...and those you hold dear!...
My "behind the times," township, (Bangor, Bay County, Michigan,) is still proceeding to charge me, (in court,) with violation of their "blight" ordinance! I own five boats, (all of which are now stowed for the winter on my 80' x 60' asphalt "parking pad,") and only eight chickens, in a "way over-sized" coop. I had 18 chickens back in 2016, and the "then" township code-enforcement person cited me for "keeping livestock," in violation of township ordinance "blah, blah, blah." So, being a 100% combat-disabled veteran, I was given a letter from both my V.A. psychologist and therapist stating: Keeping chickens as "support animals" is essential to the veteran's continued recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder, manic depression, survivor's guilt, and bi-polar disorder. It also gives him a reason to "get out of bed" in the morning, instead of worsening his sensitive psychological condition by over-sleeping. I "hand-delivered" a copy of that letter to the "then" township code-enforcement official, (essentially telling him to "put that in your pipe and smoke it," and I never heard back from them...until now!
Before I started keeping chickens in 2016, I asked all of my neighbors, (even three houses away,) if they had any objection to my housing chickens in a coop attached to my garage? They all voiced no objections, until now. As you may have guessed, I have not only a new neighbor, but also a new township code-enforcement officer. He cited me in violation of having "too many" recreational vehicles, (from a 30-foot houseboat, down to a 14-foot fishing boat,) and keeping "unauthorized" livestock. I spoke to him by phone, and informed him of the letter from 2016, to which he quickly replied, they have "no record" of any such letter! So, I simply asked my V.A. psychiatrist, (the same one who penned the original letter,) if he could send me a similar one, which he did. I again "hand-delivered" the letter to the township supervisor, and kindly requested that he make a copy and return the original to me. (He instead summoned two of his co-workers into a side office, out of my line of sight.) After five minutes of their unintelligible "discussion," I asked the receptionist to summon him back. I informed him that (according to my attorney,) mine is a case of "past precedent," which means if you've permitted something in the past, you cannot suddenly prohibit it in the present. As soon as I mentioned my attorney's name, (he's very well-known in Bay County,) his "attitude" took a complete 180! He said our "township counsel" will be "reaching out" (what an over-used phrase,) to you. So, I ambled off with my walker, and my original copy in hand, stating, "It's a done deal...past precedent rules...don't expect to see me in court!"
Now, I've received a court order, demanding that I appear in court on both the "blight," (too many boats?,) and "keeping livestock" violations. I am tempted to ignore their summons, as I don't think a judge would issue an arrest warrant for a 68-year-old, decorated, (four purple hearts...and still...one "broken,") 100% combat-disabled veteran, (who is sitting in a wheelchair as he writes this tome,) recovering from a broken pelvis and left hip, due to an accident in late August of this year. Should I even bother to show up in court? I only have one eye, and cannot see well enough with my remaining one to hold a driver's license. Which means I have to use either my part-time housekeeper/caregiver at my expense or take an expensive taxi ride to and from the courthouse. Any sincere advice or opinions are greatly welcome.
With every great wish, I remain,
Zhevotnya
P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to you...and those you hold dear!...
pile. Just my opinion of course.
