Members
Change Profile
Discussion
Topics
Last Day
Last Week
Tree View
Search Board
Keyword Search
By Date
Utilities
Contact
Administration
Documentation
Getting Started
Formatting
Troubleshooting
Program Credits
Coupons
Best Coupons
Freebie Newsletter!
Coupons & Free Stuff
|
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive October 2004: You won't believe this!!! LONG
I told you all about the fire that we had this weekend. Well we have a bed set up in our basement for when company comes they can sleep down there. Only if they want to. Well I guess that the firemen put on the report that we had someone living in our basement. Now I will say that the neighbor god bless her soul told them this because she thought she was being helpful. She told them they better check the basement because she thought an old lady lived down there. The thing was my dh and my family were standing right across the street. Dh did not know at the time why they were talking to her. I guess they thought they were just gawking at this house with all of the firetrucks. DUH! Once they figured out we were the owners they asked my dh about it twice and he told them the truth! But they still put it on the report and now Code Enforcement wants to come and inspect. I am so mad about this. Please feel free to tell me I am wrong. But I feel this is an invasion of my privacy. I WAS THE VICTIM!!! As I explained to the lady when she called. My bil will sleep down there when he comes. He will sleep on the floor. We never made him and there is space if he wanted to sleep somewhere else. He chooses to sleep down there and them inspecting the basement is not going to stop him. We only bought that bed two weeks ago and did so, so at least he was not laying on the floor. It is just insulting to me in the first place that they think that I would let my 63 year mil live down there. Especially the way it looked. We have given them no reason to not trust our word. I am a law abiding, college educated tax paying citizen who has no record. I am just angry because we have been broken into, bottles thrown through our window and are fence plowed down by someone fleeing the police. Each and every time they treat us like crap. They have no respect for the victims in this town. This may sound immature but I will think twice before I call them again for anything. I will put the fire out myself next time. I would move if I could but I can't. The lady did basically tell me if we wanted to take the bed down and put it back up when she left it was our business. So basically its just a waste of everybody's time because that is exactly what we will do. I made it clear to her I did not want any police coming with her and she was only allowed in the basement. Otherwise she needed to have a search warrant. She said that would be fine. I am sorry this is so long. I am just so angry. I know that some people will think I am overreacting and that is fine. Maybe I need a fresh set of eyes looking at the same problem. Thanks for letting me vent
Let me just ask this.. so what if you did have someone staying there?? What is wrong with that?? My mind must not be working today because I can't figure out why it would even matter? Why do they even care??
I'm w/ vicki, and how do they know that anyone is actually sleeping in the bed even if it is up. Just as logically you could say that you are storing it that way so the mattress doesnt get damp and musty. I mean really! And the inspectors comment about taking the bed down for the inspector and putting it back up just burns my britches. I mean really, so this is how your tax dollars are spent, sending people on little busy work missions instead of doing anything remotely useful. Wasting your time, wasting their time, jeez. Your code must be a real riot, do you have to have a permit to wipe your nose? Wow dont even get me started lol....
You lost me too. There's a Code that says you can't have someone sleeping in a basement?
Some basements have gas heat or boilers or something. They are afraid the person will die from the exhaust or something.... Not quite sure or the details.... Some law in some states. don't even know what the law is...
Basements used as living quarters need appropriate 'egress'. They need doors to the outside or huge windows that open up that people can escape out of in case of fire or other emergency. If Vicki's basement doesn't have proper egress and the authorities think someone is living in it, she can be fined and made to make the renovations.
I am sure that there is some code about having someone living in your basement because there might not be exits etc., but I don't see how that would effect anything in this case. I also agree that you could be storing an unused bed in your basement! Heck, I probably have enough stuff in my basement to furnish a small apartment!! LOL It is sooo past time for a garage sale.
Oh, Vicki, I agree this is NOT your case! Wouldn't it be obvious to the authorities that no one is living down there? If someone was, wouldn't there be a chair or dresser or desk or some type of personal set up? I was just explaining WHY the authorities were concerned and wanted to come out (because other posters were confused), but I believe you that no one is living down there and they should have asked YOU or your husband, not your neighbor! What does your neighbor have to say about all this?? Do you get along?
LOL Kate, it isn't me that is having the problem, it is Beth!! I am one of the posters that are confused!! LOL Trust me, no one would want to live in MY basement. LOL
Ooops!! So sorry Vicki and Beth! Okay, if BETH'S basement is being used as living quarters without proper, coded egress, she can be in trouble. It SHOULDN'T affect this case since no one is living in it, but unfortunately suspicion has arisen due to the neighbor. Sorry, Beth...what a pain!
Oh Beth, I agree - I would be FURIOUS! Especially with the neighbor. She should have said "I don't know" or whatever when asked. I would honestly call your local representative and complain - not only about this, but also about the other negative experiences you've had with these people. (((Beth))) What a bunch of bull!
I guess the problem is that we don't have break away windows in the basement. Which even if I did the windows are only 2x3 so no one would be climbing out the window. It just burns me because of my past expierences of dealing with the mentality of this town. I work in social work and I can't tell you how many times the police here have made a situation worse. Dh and I would have been more then glad to let them search whatever they wanted that day. Its just the fact to come back three days later. You know they never asked dh if everyone was all right. They went and spoke to the neighbor first! To me this is just one more way that the goverment is playing Big Brother and wanting to butt into our lives. Thanks for the support.
About the neighbor she is an old lady and I really did not think she meant any harm. At least I hope she didn't. We speak in passing but don't really know her. I think she wanted to make sure that my mil was not down there and hurt. I told her about it when I saw her around outside yesterday. She could not believe it either.
Look - your neighbor is elderly and didn't mean any harm. But, once it was reported, the township has rules it must follow. So, the simple way to handle it is to let them inspect, explain the neighbor's mistake, and be done with it. I personally don't see any point in making life hard for the inspector, who is only doing her job. She doesn't make the rules and if she doesn't follow them she will lose her job.
I agree with Ginny. What is done is done. Just let her in and get it over with and move past it. No sense in causes more stress for yourself by letting this get to you. I mean really what purpose would it serve? I am sure it will all be fine.
|