Posted on 03/20/2012 8:59:56 AM PDT by george76
A Burnsville man on his way to work was arrested and thrown in jail without bond, and then subjected to electronic home monitoring.
But it wasn’t for drugs or a DWI or some other major crime.
Burnsville city leaders say Mitch Faber’s dealings with the law all stem from his failure to properly put up siding on his house.
Yep, siding.
Faber says he had every intention of completing the stucco and decorative rock project on his home but he ran into money troubles when the economy soured. Burnsville leaders say they had no choice to enforce the law.
...
The Fabers point to what they call far more glaring code violations outside other houses in their neighborhood. They’d like to know why they were targeted and others weren’t.
“It’s selective enforcement,” said Jean.
Most importantly, though, the Fabers say Burnsville made a mockery of an otherwise law-abiding man.
Asked Mitch, “What did you accomplish other than wasting the city's money, the county's money, our money, and then all the mental and emotional anguish? What did you accomplish?”
(Excerpt) Read more at kstp.com ...
That’s just sick!
This is ridiculous! Not putting siding on a house is not an offense that merits jail time. The ABSOLUTE WORST CASE SCENARIO should be that the city have the siding put on and tack the charges onto the property owner’s taxes. Though, even that solution seems too heavy-handed. That city government is totally out of control. I hope it’s residents make some noise about this.
I’ll add this place to my list of places to avoid...
He's a moron starting a "decorative" project that he didn't already have the money to finish. You don't decorate a home with money you can't afford to do without. Still local law enforcement (which probably got a call from his HOA) is equally stupid. Burnsville does not look like an area with a lot of logical thought taking place.
Please watch your tone citizen. This is being done for his own good.
Go to jail for no siding; shoot and kill a kid in “self-defense”, and walk free.
People should also read this: (the city of Burnsville’s response)... http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2544340.shtml
Power goes right to the heads of some people, especially liberals. They cannot abide, even in common conversation, people that do not think exactly as they do...and when given a position of power they become tyrants in order to force others to do what they want. Just this morning I read a story about a woman who planted a flower bed in front of her townhouse. The homeowners association hit her with daily fines that are so high they will likely foreclose on her and take her home.
This man should run for the job of whatever tyrant started the legal action leading to his arrest, and use what happened to him as reason number one to throw the bum out.
A bench warrant was issued because he did not abide by a judge’s ruling to report back to court if he didn’t meet a deadline (which he indeed missed). The city tried for 4 years to get him to make the needed repairs to get his home up to code. I’d imagine if my 700K house was next to his it might just make me a bit upset to see that eyesore for that long...
Please watch your tone citizen. This is being done for his own good.
Actually that should be for the "Greater good of society". I shall renounce myself to the Ministry of Truth immediately.
There is another article on the sidebar of your link...a response from the City of Burnsville. Some interesting information contained therein.
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2544340.shtml
MORE The City of Burnsville is responding after receiving several calls in response to a story KSTP reported Saturday night about a Burnsville man arrested after failing to complete his home siding.
Mitch Faber was arrested on his way to work and thrown in jail without bond, then subjected to electronic home monitoring after city leaders say he failed to comply with multiple requests over several years to complete the siding on his home.
Click here to watch the entire story.
Monday, the City of Burnsville, which initially refused an on-camera interview request, released this statement on its Facebook page.
“It is evident that there is great interest in the situation regarding a Burnsville man and his property maintenance issues, as were reported on KSTP over the weekend. The story did raise some questions that deserve clarification.
The City agrees that it is extremely unfortunate that this situation escalated to the point that it did. Typically, the City resolves property maintenance issues by working with homeowners. Of the more than 1,000 property maintenance cases the City deals with annually, less than five percent (5%) escalate to the point of a citation. This case is very unusual in that the situation was not remedied after repeated requests by the City.
In this instance, the City received multiple complaints from residents regarding the condition of the property in question – and spent nearly four years (between 2007 and 2010) asking for the homeowner’s compliance. The City wrote multiple letters and offered multiple extensions for the work to be completed. In the end, the City felt it had no choice but to issue a citation to the homeowner.
Once the citation was issued, the case entered the legal process. In 2010, the homeowner appeared in court and plead guilty to his property maintenance violations. At this court appearance, the District Judge assigned to the case ordered that the work was to be completed by a specified date. The judge also ordered that – if the deadline was missed – the homeowner was to report to the court to begin serving a 30-day jail sentence.
The court-appointed deadline came and went, and City inspectors noted that the home was still in violation of City Code. Once the District Judge learned that the work was not complete by the court-appointed deadline – and because the homeowner failed to return to court as was required by the Judge – the Judge issued a warrant for the homeowner’s arrest.
Neither the City, nor any representative of the City or its Police Department at any time proactively sought out the homeowner to “apprehend” him for this violation. As City officials understand it, many weeks later the homeowner was part of a routine traffic stop — at which time the officer became aware of the homeowner’s outstanding warrant.
The City of Burnsville understands that safe and enjoyable neighborhoods are keys to the City’s success, and works hard to partner with residents to achieve that goal. Code enforcement is an important part of making sure all neighbors can take pride in their neighborhoods. It is unfortunate that this situation could not be resolved in typical fashion.”
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2544340.shtml
Elizabeth B. Kautz is the mayor. Looks like a Democrat to me.
http://www.ci.burnsville.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=103
Yep. Here she is, one of the lead mayor pushing for a “nation jobs agenda” with Pelosi and company. Warning, pdf file:
http://www.usmayors.org/usmayornewspaper/documents/06_13_11/061311USMayor.pdf
Well, I should have read that first one more carefully. She is the PRESIDENT of the U.S. Conference of Mayors!
He's a moron starting a "decorative" project that he didn't already have the money to finish. You don't decorate a home with money you can't afford to do withoutYea, that alone should be worth a couple of days in jail. It's always nice to see someone who knows all about everyone elses personal lives and how stupid they are compared to you.
The article doesn’t say what is going to happen next. He has been released, but is on electronic monitoring. Is he still going to trial? Will the city complete the work and bill him, etc. The reporter didn’t finish their job.
” I’d imagine if my 700K house was next to his it might just make me a bit upset to see that eyesore for that long...”
Yes, I’d be upset, also. However, I still contend that there was a better (and more productive) way to gain compliance than tossing the guy in jail. Also, if it was this important to warrant jail time, why in the heck did the city haggle with this guy for 4 years to actually do something? How much of the city’s $$ did they waste with enforcement actions/legal assistance?
He’s a moron starting a “decorative” project that he didn’t already have the money to finish.
Yeah, like buying a home that you don’t already have money to finish paying for. It’s nobody’s business but his own.
Government is a stick with which some people can be punished. Don't get on the wrong side of a government official. There are all kinds of rules and regulations they can choose to use to make your life miserable. You are a peasant, and don't forget it.
Government is a massive slush fund through which some people can be rewarded. If you have friends in government, or relatives in government, good things are likely to come your way. Opportunities will open up. Laws can be waived. If the government likes you, your life will be pretty smooth sailing no matter what you do.
Seriously:
The Founders gave us Limited Government for a reason. When government becomes powerful, bad things happen, and basic rights are trampled.
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