sitemeter

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Ypsilanti Shovelgate - The Saga Continues...

About a week ago, I received an invoice from the City of Ypsilanti for $103 for snow removal which they said occurred on 1/31. My initial reaction was to just pay the invoice because I couldnt remember if there was possibly any snow or ice on my walk that day. I was angry, though, because I was never issued a warning or notice of any kind. I also was angry because although I was being charged for snow removal, I never noticed that any work had been done. I was pretty angry, too, because this is not the first time I have had a bad experience with the city regarding ordinance enforcement (Click HERE to read about that experience)

Later, I came across Mark Maynard's post on the subject (which can be viewed HERE along with a subsequent post which can be viewed HERE). I came to learn that several other citizens received similar invoices and not a single one of them had received a notice or warning of any kind. Also, unlike me, many of them were certain that their walks were clear.

During the course of the discussion on that blog, there were a lot of people claiming that they received no notice. In fact, not a single person came forward and said that they had received a notice. Also, many people claimed that they had shoveled and as it happens, when they appealed, the city was unable to provide them with the photos the contractor is required to take of the walks needed shoveling. Also during that discussion, I was directed to a web site where I could see which properties received invoices. I was curious because the vacant property next to me has never had the snow shoveled even once this winter. They did not receive an invoice.

I decided to go to the City Council meeting tonight to voice my concerns. The first of which was that it appears that people were not given notices. The second of which was that there were consistent reports from many people that the work was not done. And the third issue was that the enforcement was selective such that the worst offenders, such as the vacant property next to me was not cleared or invoiced.

I was hoping that the city council would recognize that there was a problem here that was greater than just the people who have appealed this action or who have publicly complained. I suspect that if none of the loudest of city residents received a notice or warning, it is likely that many of the quieter residents did not either. I was hoping that the council would apologize to the residents of the city on behalf of the city employees who CLEARLY made a mistake here with the implementation of this ordinance. I was hoping to hear some plans about ensuring that ordinances are carried out properly.

I was disappointed. The attitude was basically, if you have a problem, appeal. And I heard that as far as notifications go, if a city employee says they left a notice, that is all the proof anyone needs. I also heard council members commend the staff on the job they did. Now, I wasnt expecting anyone to publicly censure a city employee for this but to *commend* them when there clearly is strong evidence that notices of abatement were not given is beyond the pale. At this point, I am just hoping that I misheard and they were being commended on taking the effort to enforce the ordinance in the first place (which they do deserve) rather than on the implementation which they do not. No one said anything about the selective enforcement even though I was not the only one to bring that up. Nor was there any discussion about how the city could make sure that the contractor did the job they were supposed to do. There was *some* discussion about improving the notification process and I appreciate that. But it isnt enough and it especially isnt enough in the absence of an apology or even much of an acknowledgment that the city was wrong


At any rate. I am going to appeal this. And then I will file it away with the other instances where I have been disappointed in how the city handles things. I can say this though. I am proud of all of my fellow citizens who came out to the meeting and spoke up, not just for themselves (as most of them have already had their invoices waived) but for everyone. One of the things this city still has in its favor is that folks in Ypsilanti are alright!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lynn, it was nice to finally meet you. And you spoke eloquently. Your blog posts are always excellent.

It takes a lot to stand up and speak your mind as you did tonight.

Its so easy to see which council persons were willing to listen and which ones just wanted to cya. I can understand why some want to be king to city employees, but my wards council person is a buffoon. And its disappointing.

Lets have a beer sometime.

Anonymous said...

kind

Anonymous said...

And its sad to say, but half of the council are clueless, some knew something really fishy happened. And it only hurts the rep of the city.

I know of three good councilpeople. But sadly, most are very temporary figgurheads that son't even see whats really going on, and if they did know what was going on, would not have any idea, or the gumption to do anything about it.

Lynne said...

Dear Anonymous. I love having beers with my neighbors. But I have no idea who you are.

Lynne said...

As an update, the mayor has apologized on Mark's blog and I appreciate that very much

Anonymous said...

Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!

Anonymous said...

[B]NZBsRus.com[/B]
Escape Laggin Downloads Using NZB Downloads You Can Hastily Find Movies, Games, MP3s, Software and Download Them @ Electric Speeds

[URL=http://www.nzbsrus.com][B]Newsgroup[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

It isn't hard at all to start making money online in the underground world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]blackhat blog[/URL], Don’t feel silly if you haven’t heard of it before. Blackhat marketing uses little-known or misunderstood methods to produce an income online.

Anonymous said...

After getting more than 10000 visitors/day to my website I thought your slynne.blogspot.com website also need unstoppable flow of traffic...

Use this BRAND NEW software and get all the traffic for your website you will ever need ...

= = > > http://get-massive-autopilot-traffic.com

In testing phase it generated 867,981 visitors and $540,340.

Then another $86,299.13 in 90 days to be exact. That's $958.88 a
day!!

And all it took was 10 minutes to set up and run.

But how does it work??

You just configure the system, click the mouse button a few
times, activate the software, copy and paste a few links and
you're done!!

Click the link BELOW as you're about to witness a software that
could be a MAJOR turning point to your success.

= = > > http://get-massive-autopilot-traffic.com

Anonymous said...

They're linked to lower cholesterol naturallyTake digest it Plus regularly to prevent harmful cholesterol from damaging the arteries, causing them to go to the chiropractor for treatment?

Here is my web page: nature s sunshine colon cleanse

Anonymous said...

I just сouldn't leave your site before suggesting that I extremely loved the usual information an individual provide for your visitors? Is going to be back continuously in order to inspect new posts

Here is my site :: devis fenetres

Anonymous said...

Hey I am so hаppy I found youг web ѕite, I
гeаlly found you by mistаke, whіle I was
rеsearchіng on Αskjeeѵе for somethіng еlse,
Anyways I am hеre now and wοuld just like tο saу thanks а lot for
а marvelous post anԁ a all rοunԁ thrіlling blog (I alsо loνe the thеme/design), I don't have time to browse it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent work.

Also visit my webpage :: meuble de salle de bain

Anonymous said...

Vеry shortly this web ρage will bе famous among all
blogging vieωerѕ, due to іt's fastidious articles

My site :: disque ssd

Anonymous said...

First off I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick question which I'd like to ask if you don't mind.
I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your head before writing.
I have had a tough time clearing my mind in getting my ideas
out. I do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin.
Any recommendations or hints? Appreciate it!

Look into my web blog maquillage pas cher

Anonymous said...

I haνe been exploгing for a little for any high quаlity artiсles or blog
рosts in this sогt οf area
. Ехplorіng in Yаhoo I аt laѕt stumbled upon this ωeb sіtе.

Reading thіs info Sο i am glad to shοw that Ι hаѵе
a veгy ϳust гight uncаnny fеeling I саme upon just what ӏ neеdeԁ.
I most surely wіll make sure to do not foгget thіѕ
web ѕite and proviԁes it a looκ regulаrlу.


Here iѕ my homеpagе devis chauffage electrique

Anonymous said...

I for all time emailed this website post page to all my associates, because if like to read it afterward my links will too.


Here is my page: voyance Gratuite

Anonymous said...

Really when someone doesn't be aware of afterward its up to other people that they will assist, so here it happens.

my page ... tarot gratuit