Going on an impulse

Sometimes you get things handed to you and you feel the need to respond. Time is of the essence in some cases. You end up having to drop everything and just go. That's what happened yesterday. I received an email in the afternoon, stating there was a meeting at one of the sorta local high schools at 6:30 pm. It seems someone got it in their heads to incorporate our area into a new 'City or Town'.

I was on the fence about going and hubby was too, but we went and I'm glad we did. This meeting was much more organized than the brawl that was the 'meeting' about the DOT plans for a freeway going right smack through our neighborhood... But once again horse owners and livestock were NOT considered where any of their plans were concerned.

There were two of our other neighbors at the meeting and they too had questions about how all of this would affect our subdivision. Seeing as how there were a few cards in the pile with questions about livestock and zoning changes, the organizers and panel addressed the issue. (Maybe they knew from the looks of our little group, they had damned well better!) As usual they glossed over the issue in their answer. We were told that we would not be affected by any new zoning regulations or changes. We are to be 'grandfathered in' as it is, but should we decide to sell, the new owners would be required to comply with the new regulations.

Fine, but what affect does that have on our property value? As it is, we can have as much livestock as we can reasonably fit. If we want to run a huge herd on a small parcel, as long as everyone is fed and cared for, the neighbors don't complain- life is good and do as you please.

We fought with the county not too long ago about proposed zoning changes. They wanted to limit livestock to 2 large animals per acre. Large animals being horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, sheep or goats. (I'm sure I missed something in there, but they wouldn't...)

Then that same year there was the whole fiasco and fighting over DOT plans to build a freeway through our neighborhood. Everyone had to scramble to put their 2 cents in by the short deadline, but DOT won't be deciding until 2016... That meeting was an experience and 'heated' doesn't even come close to describing it accurately enough.

DOT hadn't even planned to show up for it. Nice of them, huh? The represenatives they sent? You'll love this- they live on the other side of town! They are in no way affected by any of this. Isn't that sweet of them?

Recently the county has stirred the pot again. This time over arena lighting. Who would complain about arena lights? Most of our neighbors would ask to use the arena if they couldn't afford to put up lights on their own. We also know where to go to practice roping or barrel racing at night when the weather cools down. Since the sun doesn't set in the summer until around 8:30-9pm, the lights aren't on all that long anyways. In the wintertime it's not much of an issue either- people think its too cold to ride at night.

So now city incorporation is on the table. I hope it doesn't get too ugly from here, but they are using boundaries that divide neighborhoods in half. I have already contacted another blogger (Katphoti) who has recently moved into another neighborhood to be divided by county on one side of the street- city on the other.

Once again, horse people are getting shafted. Problem is we are armed with plenty of manure, manure forks and people to use as targets.