Blount Today did an article about that harrassment of the 80 year old lady who took the matter to the BZA: (link...)

It revealed something weird about the BZA process, though:

Schmidt said he submitted a $50 fee to appeal the ruling. His attorney also spoke with county attorney Rob Goddard, who advised Fields that what Schmidt was doing on the farm constituted “incidental” use, and it would be hard for any zoning regulations to be applied to the situation.

“Roger Fields conveyed that message to me, and I thought it was a done deal.

Since when is a non-public conversation with Roger Fields, the Building Commissioner, an appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals? Sounds like there was some misunderstanding of the process. So the neighbor had to formally appeal instead of Schmidt, further villifying her.

Also, as I understood other coverage of the story, the county attorney - and thus the BZA - said ONCE a year was incidental use - not the 7 concerts that Schmidt was already doing.

I have admired the creativity of Maple Lane Farms in the past, and I am sure the quiet activities made for fine neighbors. The helicopter rides and late-night concerts that have emerged more recently - not so much.

"I think it would be a good idea."
-Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

SeeJaneRide
...if the county enforced its zoning regulations as well as the City of Maryville? The city doesn't have a problem standing up to the mighty Vulcan Materials. Why doesn't the county just tell ol' Maple Lane Farms it's out of line? You either cut out the helicopter rides and late night concerts or you're out of business. See? It's pretty simple stuff. If Schmidt wants to add attractions, he'd be smart to keep it simple family fun. He needs to remember his farm is not in Pigeon Forge!

The word "nabob" just doesn't get used often enough: (link...)

I cannot believe that the men of Blount County are going to stand by and watch while ruffians terrorize an 80-year-old lady who lives alone just because she stood up to the neighbors for violating zoning law.

I think Mr. Sunny Day (is that a real name?) is calling it true.

Perhaps there are a few retired Marines around who have fought for the rights of people to have peace in their homes.

Gee, wonder who he's talking about? Sadly, the Mayor's too busy trying to deconstruct the PBA, the Sister City Program, South Blount Utility District, the Children's Home, etc., etc., ad nauseam, to worry about defense of the elderly populace from ruffians.

"I think it would be a good idea."
-Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

what would you do in this situation? If you knew for a fact that elderly citizens ( or any citizen, for that matter) were being harassed in Blount County in a routine and frequent way, and you were the county's leading executive, what steps would you take?

Let's make a list.

I'll start.

1. Develop a way to collect information from the general public on harassment incidents.

2. Analyze the nature of those incidents to determine patterns of behavior and, if possible, predictors for future incidents.

3. Call a meeting of all county law enforcement administrators (city police, county sheriff, emergency management, etc.) to begin planning for effective intervention both in individual situations, and across their jurisdictions.

4. ?

Then what?