A*Hole of the Year Award: Developer in Kennewick, WA

[OswegoAtheist]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008231428_reservist06m.html">Kennewick reservist faces threats over landscaping

KENNEWICK — Burke Jensen moved to Kennewick about a year ago, bought a nice house in the country south of the city and began to settle into a new job at Energy Northwest.

Then came the call five months ago to serve his country in Kuwait.

So Jensen, who says he is an involuntarily mobilized reservist, headed off, leaving behind a pregnant wife, a young son and a 2.5-acre lot with not a spot of landscaping.

Now, Lt. Jensen is being told to get an irrigation system and landscaping on his property as soon as possible or face legal action from the Oak Hill Country Estates Homeowners' Association.

Some choice quotes from the one-man HOA:

"I really don't give a < expletive > where he is or what his problem is" said Chick Edwards, owner and developer of the 47-lot subdivision at the south end of Oak Street in Kennewick.

"This is a contract. I don't like the way his property looks. This clown gets to do what he wants, and I'm as mad as hell" he said.

Yeah, I'm sure this reservist wanted to leave his pregnant wife and new home behind to fight in Kuwait. Who doesn't?

:mad:

Oswego "http://oakhillcountryestates.com/contact.htm">Oak Hill Country Estates32220 South Oak Street Kennewick, WA 99337 [phone]: a great place to live if you're not a reservist" Atheist

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. We're fighting in Kuwait?

:shrug:

[realisticphish]

3. shhh

we aren't supposed to mention that one :tinfoilhat:

[OswegoAtheist]

7. D'oh!

:dunce:

Oswego "Think, then type." Atheist

[OswegoAtheist]

8. D'oh!

:dunce:

Oswego "Think, then type." Atheist

[Mojambo]

2. What a prick! n/t

[realisticphish]

4. douche

i fucking hate HOA's. I know, they have a time and place, but when you can't put up a security fence because it doesn't look "quaint" or when the marigolds in your front lawn are the wrong shade of blue, it's a big friggin problem.

[Ian David]

5. I sent the guy a message

Thank you for your information request. We will contact you shortly.

The following information was just sent to Oak Hill Country Estates:
Go Fuck Yourself
[email protected]
People like Burke Jensen are the reason why YOU and your family have not been drafted, you ignorant, selfish bastard.

[TahitiNut]

6. Welcome to the Dry Shitties, Lieutenant Jenson!

The townies saw ya comin' and you're nothin' but shark food. The "town fathers" prey upon ANYONE moving there - even if you comply and join their white clapboard 'church.'

FWIW, the reason the lots are so large is because they're not hooked up to a sewer system. The land there has very slow perc test and zoning requires enough room for TWO septic systems with large leach beds. Kennewick is run by insiders and they're VERY predatory when it comes to outsiders owning lots and not mowing the grass and clearing the brush. Tumbleweed is a HUGE nuisance around there and so are grass fires and dust storms.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. God, homeowners' associations...

It's like all of the people who were too dumb or power-mad to convince people they needed a slot on the PTA end up there. There are tons of interesting blogs out there following the horror stories these things throw up. I'm not generally one to speak in absolutes but there is no way in hell I will ever buy a house where I'm going to be subject to one of these organizations. I'm sure there are some good ones out there, but the bad stories you hear are generally really, really bad.

[beam me up scottie]

10. I don't usually jump on this bandwagon,

but I'll bet $20 he's a republican.

""(Jensen) doesn't have the right to walk away from his obligation," said Edwards, who as the developer is the only member of the homeowners association. "I have most of the property still, so I am the homeowners association," he said"


on edit, good to know not everyone is an asshole:

An e-mail on Friday from Jensen to DeAlicante, which was provided to the Herald, says several of Jensen's fellow employees at Energy Northwest are helping to clear the property of weeds and blow out sprinkler lines, if necessary, to make sure they will not freeze during the winter. It also says a neighbor used a tractor to mow weeds.

Rick Miller, whose home is in sight of Jensen's, said he's sympathetic to Jensen's situation. "Given the circumstances, it doesn't bother me," he said. "He can't control the circumstances."

I don't know why anyone would want anything to do with a hoa.