Ingred Larson received an eviction notice from the county today. Why? For living in a tent on her own property. Yes. Really. She is being evicted for living in a tent on her own land.
10 years ago the city sewer line flooded her home with 10,000 gallons of raw sewage. There was a settlement, however the city/county wants her to hook back up to the county sewer system, but Larson does not want to, and would rather hook up to the septic tank system on her property. The county doesnt want that, and is forcing her to hook-up to the city sewer.
I am prepared to deal with whatever comes, Larsen said. If I have to go to court or even if I have to go to jail because this is my land, this is my home. said Larson the use of a tent in Brunswick County must take place in an approved campground. The tent located on Larsons property is currently in violation of a county ordinance and must be removed immediately. The letter also said if the tent is not removed, her case would be referred to Brunswick Countys legal department.
It sounds like a battle of wills. But a battle that probably should never happen to begin with. When authorities use a camping ordinance to evict a property owner from their own property, what happens then?
In this authors opinion, this is something that should never happen. If a landowner wants to live in a tent on their own land, let them be. Leave them alone. How are her rights being respected? Infringing on a landowners rights to live on their own land how they please is unacceptable.
Is this an overstep and abuse of power by the city/county authorities?
How is a property owners rights being respected and upheld?
Her house wouldn't have filled with shit if she installed a "back flow system". That's on her and she didn't win the 300K in damages that she sued for.
As far as the tent... leave her alone. Your local tent ordinance is ridiculous. She should be able to do any legal act on her own property... including using her own septic tank.
Maybe not. Once again the author of this yellow journalism article does not explain why she was denied a permit by the government (local county health department sanitation department) to hook up to the old septic tank.
(Larson) would rather hook up to the septic tank system on her property. The county doesnt want that.
Ingrid (the author cannot even spell her name correctly) Larson would rather hook up to the existing septic tank on her land. The author neglected to state that Larson had filed for approval to use the existing septic tank on her land or give the reason why her request was turned down. That is a questions that stands begging for an answer.
One need not look too far to find a strong possibility for the refusal to use the existing tank. It could be that the old septic tank is unsafe and unsanitary. Protection of the ground water from pollution is a critical consideration in that coastal area to insure the quality of water for the local community is protected from contamination. The people of Southports health depends on it.
The regulation governing septic tanks states that license personal should be the only people who service or install septic tank systems. In order to ensure that local codes or guidelines are being followed, homeowners who want to begin new on-site installations must get permission from their local county health department sanitation or building regulations department.
A recent story in the Southport local news stated that a Landscaper fell into a septic pit while mowing a persons lawn because it was very old and weak. It couldnt withstand the weight of the lawn mower and the Landscaper, so it gave way. Different articles pieced together indicates the septic tank she wants to use may be over 20 years old. She has been gone from the property for over ten years and she was not hooked up to the old septic tank when she left.
Larsens Southport home was destroyed 10 years ago when a county pipe burst and filled it with more than 10,000 gallons of raw sewage. Since then, Larsen settled with the county sanitation district for more than $100,000. Larsen would like to rebuild but isnt keen on rejoining the municipal system. She would rather hook up to the existing septic tank on her land.
There is a published procedure and a proper format for Larson to have a new septic tank installed. No doubt that includes installing a connection to an old septic tank if it is up to code. She can have a new septic tank system installed anytime she wants to. The instillation requirements and procedures are explained here. She wanted to hook up to the existing septic tank on her land. She applied for approval to use the old septic tank. The septic tanks system she wanted to use had to be approved by the EPA and the local county health department sanitation department. It was not, she was turned down.
Attaboy comrade - your predictable response is straight out of the Communist Manifesto.
Karl Marx describes in his communist manifesto, the ten steps necessary to destroy a free enterprise system and replace it with a system of omnipotent government power, so as to effect a communist socialist state. Those ten steps are known as the Ten Planks of The Communist Manifesto
The 10 PLANKS stated in the Communist Manifesto and some of their American counterparts are...
1. Abolition of private property and the application of all rents of land to public purposes.
(Zoning - Model ordinances proposed by Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover widely adopted. Supreme Court ruled "zoning" to be "constitutional" in 1921. Private owners of property required to get permission from government relative to the use of their property.
Ingrid can rebuild her house anytime she wants to. She can have a new septic system installed any time she wants to. The one thing she cannot do is hook up to an old septic system that has not been used in excess of way more than 10 years. Why cant she do that? Because the authorities (local county health department sanitation department) denied her request for a permit. Why did they deny the request? One can only speculate (speculate, because the asshole author in his yellow journalism piece neglected to find out why) that the old septic system is unsafe and would pollute the ground water. The city is obviously using the ruse of the tent code violation to get her off the property which has no sanitary facilities .and has not had for the 4 months she has now lived there. This has absolutely nothing to do with the Communist Manifesto .it has everything to do with personal hygiene and pollution of the ground water. What is there about this you cant grasp?
I have been aware of septic tank pollution problems for some time. Friends in another state are dealing with it the same way you are. I knew there are millions and millions of septic tanks in the US and septic tanks are reported as a source of ground water contamination, more than any other source, in 46 states.
"and septic tanks are reported as a source of ground water contamination"
I hope not. I have a well, also.
If your area is not saturated with septic tanks in close proximity, if yours was constructed properly and if the soil is okay (lots of "if" there) then you have no problem. My friends send a sample of their well water off on a scheduled basis to have it tested. They have no problem. Periodic testing of your well might not be a bad idea. I would have it done.