Hi,
I shot this out of focus picture of the Washington Post. See all of the boxes in this lady's front yard. One of them is a comcast box (internet provider). The lady doesn't even use comcast yet the company was allowed to tear up her yard and install its box smack dab in the front. Apparently, the city of manassas had allowed an easement for any utility company to post whatever they want there right on her lawn.
So in addition to being able to take your house away, for eminant domain of some developer, they can also plant stuff in your lawn (I'd have disguised it as a factory and run tracks out to it)
Wow. If some utility company tried pulling that cp in front of my house, I would envision some late night backhoe digging with those utility boxes winding up on the lawns of the city councilman.
-Brian
altterrain wrote: Wow. If some utility company tried pulling that cp in front of my house, I would envision some late night backhoe digging with those utility boxes winding up on the lawns of the city councilman.-Brian
Eeek what eyesores
But it could be that she doesn't own the front part of her lawn. She might actually be using an easement from the city to access her land. It happens a lot more than you'd think, so buyer beware. Make sure you look over the parcel description very closely before purchasing.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
Have fun with your trains
Midnight backhoe ain't too smart an idea, the backhoe and it's operator could well light up! I think I'd tend to use expanding foam like Great Stuff to seal all ventilation holes and let the innards fry themselves! Do that a few times and they have to spend a mess of bucks replacing and paying folks for lost service and they'll soon get the idea and move them!
fill the darn thing with expanding foam and watch them try to make repairs or add service for somebody!
A Lightning rod VERY close by should also do the job!
One word: Kudzu.
SandyR
vsmith wrote:I've seen cities up were they have allowed local artists to paint the boxes, it makes a difference if its done well, or at least maybe a covert midnight art attack on the them
In my case, we took all of about 6 hours to ask for and receive permission to paint the boxes. SDG&E even contributed some paint to the local artist (I use the word artist with probably too much liberty) to continue the painting. So our formerly dull green electrical box now sports a blue sky with whispy clouds and a few roses.
Tom Trigg
Kevin,
Are you familiar with Leyland Cypress. They probably would grow in Colorado if you gave them enough water. Under good conditions, ie. water, sun, and fertilizer, they will grow about 3 ft per year after the first year. Around here, they use them everywhere to make barriers, hide stuff, wall out a nasty neighbor, as I did when I lived in Silver Spring. When you buy them from Lowes, they have a 1 year warranty, so each year you can take any dead ones back for new ones.
Paul
SandyR wrote: One word: Kudzu.SandyR
Two words, POISON IVY. Perfectly legal, evironmentaly sound, and grows nice and green.
The same thing happened to my mom's house in VA Beach, the utility companies put in two boxes, but as part of the deal the city maintains the landscaping and cuts the grass. Yes, caveat emptor, check the zoning and your plat. If in VA Beach, check the location of the FA-18 master jet air bases relative to your house BEFORE you complain about jet noise after you move in. Just another compromise for living in civilization. Most countries in the world have no public utilities at all, so overall I'd say we are very blessed for living in the USA
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
cacole wrote:A lot of the suggested "get even" tactics mentioned here could cause you to wind up in jail and facing a stiff fine for interfering with a utility line, plus having to pay damages to the utility concerned. Take a close look at your property deed and see exactly where your property line ends and where utility easements are before sabotaging a utility box that you think is on your property, because it may not be.
Only if ya get caught.
Hoofe
Tangerine:
Man, you've got the idea! I am filing that one away.
Wish I was born smart like you, instead of so good-lookin'. Not to say you ain't a handsome guy, you understand. And don't take me wrong: I got grandkids and only like gals. Well, used to. Now, unless they can cook.... (Ya gotta be careful on these here postings. )
Les W.
T-J,
Send me photos for the Army homepage.
Bamboo
GearDrivenSteam wrote: do we really own property?
Answer: No, any military, city, police, etc. can and will take property at will if they need it.
Toad
Capt Bob Johnson wrote:When I lived in New Jersey, I had a like conversation with a gentleman who was a prominent attorney, City Solicitor for several municipalties, and had held many leadership positions in the State Senate; his answer was that under NJ law, you own from Heaven to Hell, and everthing in between. None of that water rights, mineral rights, or any of that folderol! So in Jersey, just make darn sure of the location of your property lines!
Heaven to Hell and everything in between??? I thought New Jersey was already halfway to Hell, well, Newark at least , you wouldn't want to drink the water anyway
vsmith wrote:...you wouldn't want to drink the water anyway
Well it's probably better then this. Looks to be a good idea, it just sounds icky. Although I wonder what's in the water now when I drive by the replenishment basins. Soon I'll be able to say I'm showering in poop
Southwest Chief wrote: vsmith wrote:...you wouldn't want to drink the water anywayWell it's probably better then this. Looks to be a good idea, it just sounds icky. Although I wonder what's in the water now when I drive by the replenishment basins. Soon I'll be able to say I'm showering in poop
Read about that, well its that or start building the nuclear powered desalination plants. Given our chronic drought, if given a choice, which do you think the local Greenies will opt for?
Less lifetime fuel cost with the nuc, Probably less overall cost altogether.
less footprint in land use with nuc.
Nuc could heat and irradiate that stuff so that it would be absolutely safe.
Caveat; as my late father used to say "as long as there are machines designed and operated by man, there will be accidents and foul ups!"
I guess that's the trade-off you get for not having those ugly overhead lines running through your neighborhood. I have a power box and cable box that straddles mine and my neighbors property. Don't mind it at all. Don't have to stare up at power lines and when the trees finally get big enough I won't have to deal with the tree butchers turning my beautiful red maples into giant shrubs for line clearance. I'm amazed at the horrible job they've done on some of these once magnificent specimens.
Mark
Hi Mark,
A very interesting a valid point about the decimation of trees. However, with the slightest excuse of a possible danger of any kind, local administrations send for the chainsaws quite readily.
Generally speaking most low tension overhead cables are only in the more rural parts of towns or in the countryside of the UK. Overhead cables are, of course, prone to failure in severe weather. They do fail in the UK quite often and our severe weather is generally nowhere as severe as that in the United States.
Luckily the cabling here is underground.
Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad
https://www.buckfast.org.uk/
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)
Toad>>
This has always bothered me and seems in direct conflict with the third amendment - Protection from quartering of troops. - No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
So, you cannot be forced to house soldiers on your property but they can take your property to build a military base. I would love to see this challenged in the Supreme Court one day.
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