We need your imput

[emeraldsea]

Hey everyone we are being discriminated against and really don't know what to do. When we bought this house it was and is on a community well run by a socalled christian who is chairperson. We have always had very high water bills for the most part but she hasn't read the meter since the first few months just puts however many gallons used she wants. Well we paid a bill a few months back with a GLBT pride check and the very next bill was almost $90 so I sent her a letter saying it must be a mistake and so she lowered it but then started reading the meter and I didn't notice so I didn't check it and that was on June 19, I paid that bill of $45 but then she read it again June 29 and sent another bill of $93 which is almost $140 for one month. She claimed we used 20,000 gallons in that 10 days. Which I can't understand reading it in another 10 days. I figure she made up the first reading and the last was accurate so as to make it look right but it can't be. Since then we read it everyday and even filled the pool for the grandbaby but it hasn't hardly moved. Chel says they don't even use that much at the animal hospital and they have kennels too. I don't know what to do but I am not paying it. I made a complaint with the MO Attorney Generals office but that could take months and I am not sure if they have to go by any rules. She also charges us property taxes every year but I don't know why. Anyway we would appreciate any imput you might have.
Maggie and Chel

[The Tulsa Fun Girls]

i would say start a weekly meter log of your meter. pay the bill, sit back and watch what she bills for.

ps - she may not be discriminating against you. it could be an honest mistake, or she could be cheating everyone.

[Dawn]

I had a similar incident happen at the house that I owned with my ex. It turned out that we had a water leak. I would make her check to see if that is the problem. We lived in a small town and the water company came out to shut off the water since it was an excessive amount in a short amount of time, they knew it was a big problem.

We ran up over $300 in just over three days. Incidentally, he did have to pay it, but we owned the house, so you may be able to get out of it as part of your rental agreement.

[emeraldsea]

Hey thanx for your input. We do own the house and have lived here almost 2 years. I have thought maybe it is that she is cheating everyone because when I called to get an estimate on a private well locally he said he had just dug 2 wells around the corner. Chel is taking dated pics of the meter and it is hardly moving in comparison to what she claims. I don't think then it can be a leak for that reason and also because it was extremely high just after the GLBT check til I complained by mail as she won't answer the phone and then it went down to $24 a month for 2 months and then again very high. And that is when the meter reading started again after 18 months and it was a reading way lower than the last time because they had reset it for some reason. That is why I don't think it is a not a leak cuz it would be consistent. Also I pay our bill as soon as I get it and never before have I gotten another in 10 days, showing the payment but reading it again and adding another $93, actually never in my life. Who reads the meter again in 10 days? TOO wierd! I try to contact her but she won't answer and it is not like I have ever been rude, because I haven't. I could pay it if that would be the end but I just don't know what is going to happen next. The reading the meter in 10 days is just crazy and cannot be a mistake because someone went and read it. I just wish it was as it is very stressful not knowing what is next.
Thanx
Maggie

[froggie]

If it is being run by a chairperson...is there a way to elect a new one or go to the other people that she checks there meters as well and find out if she is cheating them out of money too. there has to be something that can be done. I am not sure what a community well is but either way I dont think it is right for you to be treated this way. there has to be a way to report her other than the attny general. does she have a boss or another chairperson that she works with surly she isnt the only one who handles everything. I think i would track the lady down and have a face to face chat with her.

Delana

[emeraldsea]

Thanx Delana. I know some people might think that we should not have used personal checks that are GLBT but the profits went to our cause and I am out and plan to stay that way regardless of the consequences. This is not just about me it is about my two gay sons who grew up getting beat up almost daily and about the future of the kids that have a right to be in love and themselves. That said we have talked to some people in the village as it is called and haven't met one person on the well. Most are hillbilly types who say they don't have water and a few are on private wells and say there is a board but nobody knows who they are. Don't want to go door to door as we have run off too many yahoos shooting guns on our place and partying in our cave, evidently something they feel is their right. Don't know where they live and don't want to knock on their doors. Chel just wants to get a private well drilled so we are but am still going to pursue the investigation. I have tried to call and went down there and she is never there anymore, I wrote and she ignores me. So I guess this is the only thing to do so that we can just live in peace. By the way Delana it is a public water dept. for the village/area.
Thanx so much to all that listened to me vent and I will let you know the outcome of the investigation.
Maggie

[angela]

:D I guess you are making the right decision about having your own private well dug, but you will need water between now and then, right? If I were you, I would keep up the investigation because overcharging you isn't right and everybody has a boss, right? Keep us posted on your progress.
Angela and Lisa :D

[emeraldsea]

Thanx Angela and Lisa. It has gotten worse cuz there was a guy out there for over 2 hours destroying the front of our property, I am use to them trimming the trees and undergrowth once a year but this is unbelievable. I went out there finally with the video camera and asked him why he had to cut so far into our property and he said he was hired by the mysterious association and if I didn't move myself and my car he would run over it he didn't care and my car was off the road. I said your association is harrasing us because we are gay and he said so he was hired to do it and he was going to. So I stayed where I was and he went around me and left after about 10 more minutes of destroying my property. He also cut the cables on a utility pole and the pole started swaying so I called the electric company and they are here fixing it. At least not much doubt left is there?
Maggie

[angela]

:D :shock: No, there is absolutely no doubt there. Have you called the police?
Angela and Lisa

[emeraldsea]

Yes we did I was just waiting for Chel to get home. The deputy said road rights for county maintained our from the middle of the road to the shoulder and that much more over but that he didn't think they had any rights as it isn't county. He did agree it was excessive damage and took a criminal complaint. So we looked in our papers and as it turns out when the created table rock lake they turned this into a subdivision which is on the james river arm of the lake and divided the lots and the road is a private road and you own the road in front of your property and have to maintain it yourself but they have no rights at all. We own 6 lots on this private road. Only one road is public and it leads in and is county maintained. The morons are trying to run us off by making it almost impossible to sell even if we wanted to, makes no sense. As it turns out they have never trimmed trees it is the electric co. and they always notify first. I drove around and he only cut a little around the corner all the destruction was our place and he didn't touch any place else. So Chel said lets just fence it in and that is what we are doing but I am still sick about all the trees he butchered. Only thing we can do is to fence and replant and of course get the well drilled. I tell ya all we are so ready for DW! :D
Maggie

[angela]

:D I bet. Wish we could be there, but we will have to take a rain check this time.
Angela and Lisa

[garylee]

I THINK, ESPECIALLY AROUND HERE, THAT IT IS A CRYING SHAME TO HAVE TO PUT UP SUCH MISUSE. I WONDER IF AN "UPRIGHT CITIZEN" HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ALREADY. SINCE MOVING HERE THIRTEEN YEARS AGO I HAVE BEEN AMAZED AT HOW THE GAYS ARE TREATED. JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE UNITED STATES I GUESS. I WOULD HONESTLY HIRE A LAWYER WITH THE INTENTION THAT IF YOU WIN THE CASE, THAT THEY PAY FOR DAMAGE, STRESS (AND ALL OF THAT) AND THE FEES. THERE HAS TO BE ONE GAY FRIENDLY LAWYER IN THE AREA THAT WOULD HELP YOU ALL OUT. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY THAT THIS CAN EVEN BEGIN TO BE STOPPED AND THAT IS CHRISTIAN, BLACK, STRAIGHT, BI, OR WHATEVER.....DON'T MESS WITH THE GAYS! GOOD LUCK YOU ALL AND I HOPE YOU COME OUT ON TOP. I WOULD ALSO WRITE AN ARTICLE IN THE LOVELY CITIZEN. BE PROUD TO TELL EVERYONE THAT WILL READ IT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE. GARYLEE

[Jeannie]

Stress is right! Big-time! Good Lord, Maggie, I'm so sorry you're going through this! Y'know, they say (and I believe) that everything happens for a reason, but I sure don't see what it would be, other than to teach them that they just can't continue to harass people who they think are different from them. You should have no trouble winning that lawsuit. Glad you videotaped the destruction and involved the police. I'll see you and Chel DW. Please take care!

[froggie]

oh my gosh that is aweful!!!!

There has to be a way to stop it. yall cant live like that its not right to be treated that way at all.

i think i would add some razor wire to that fence!!!

I am glad you a going to have your own well dug...that is probably best.

I hate that yall are going thru all this mess. I agree w/the person who said to check into a lawsuit. keep us updated.

Delana

[emeraldsea]

Yes Garylee there are some in Springfield we looked at GLO community listings and Chel wants to wait for the investigations to complete. Funny thing is there were two cars at the building yesterday but had a chain across the drive with a keep out sign. Thank you Jeannie and I think you are right there must be a reason and that is probably it. Looking forward to seeing you at DW. Sorry we won't get to see you two there Angela and Lisa. I understand as I didn't get to do much while I was raising my kids that didn't involve them. It is a great time in life though so enjoy it while it last. Did get half the fence up over the weekend and will finish it next weekend. It is't razor wire Delana but 5 strands of barb wire as close as we can get.
Thank you all so much
Maggie

[froggie]

oh wow!!!

that is really strange about the association thing they have there. sounds a little shady.

good luck with everything and see you at DW.

Delana

[emeraldsea]

Update is we got another bill this one for $110 plus the $93 we didn't pay because we had paid our bill already so they decided we were very late and gave us ten days and they disconnect. I just feel for anyone they treat this way that can't get their own well financed. As for us it is being done while we are gone and they can disconnect away cuz it already will be. Good news is one of our neighbors is gonna come with his little backhoe and dig right to their line and run our well from there so won't be anything to disconnect. :lol:

Maggie

[froggie]

that is great news!!!! I am glad that you will be getting your own well. How is the fence coming along? look forward to seeing yall this weekend.

Delana

[angela]

:D Great news, ladies!!
Angela and Lisa :D

[Jeannie]

Great news about your well, Maggie! Nice to know you have at least one friendly neighbor! I'd just be sure the ruling body over there doesn't try to ruin your credit by saying you didn't pay them what they say you owe. See you this weekend! :)

[Debbie]

if you get a lawyer dont get one in town get one in another place..and if you look at your watermeter there is normally a small triagle beside the dial inside the glass,,if it is turning you got a leak,,it is a leak detecter..be sure to post your property that way if someone ( accidently ) gets hurt ,your posted,if you know what i mean,,i went through much the samething where im at now,,after a few shots in the dark and much scareing most think im crazy and dont bother me much now,,but im moveing to eureka soon anyway cause i have a daughter and transsexuals arent welcome here,,stand you ground,,be sure to post property..if i can help any otherway pm me and ill send phone no,i cant stand bigots who wont let us live in peace,,we are people to..keep us posted

[mmouse]

:shock:
WOW, Maggie!! I just now finally read this thread (no offense---just been busy at the shop & not spending much time on the boards, :wink: ) !

People like that make you want to go out & get a shot-gun, don't they??! :roll:
If you know who this "woman" is, find out where she lives & then go see her at her home; preferrably at dinner time. Tell her since she hasn't bothered to answer any of your various communications, that you thought you'd just go straight to the horse's as....er mouth :wink: & get some clarification in person. Not much she can do except slam the door in your face, & then you just make yourself at home on her porch or whatever until she opens up again, or calls the cops. If they show up, you have your bills in your hand, explain the problem & let them ask her what's going on. There's nothing quite so satisfying as "helping" someone get caught with their pants down..... :wink: :oops: 8)

And if she is cheating others, they'll be all ears as the story gets bandied around town & will be up in arms right along with you. And if it's only you being cheated, then you have an "official witness" to her shenanigans & she can easily be "deposed".

Win win. 8)

'Course, keep in mind that I'm a rabblerouser from waaayyyyy back & I LOVE nailing idiots like her!!! :shock: :lol: :lol:

Lots of luck, Maggie & Chell!!!

[emeraldsea]

Hey Mickey! I think I should not do the shotgun because with my luck I would get the biggest baddest Bertha on the cell block to make me her Biatch :shock: I think I will let the Att. General do their investigation and I feel confident she will get hers. No Debbie it wasn't a leak that would've been alot cheaper than the well. We have read the meter and took pics daily and we were not using that much she was plain and simple trying to get us to move. And no we are not the first she has harrassed to get out they got this idea that they all have a right to access the lake through the properties of the people on the side next to it and of course anyone who is on that side and different they try and usually succeed in running off. Found this out from talking to neighbors. They even told people next door that they couldn't call sherrif because they wouldn't come out here that they had no jurisdiction. Well wrong again because we have and will continue to call and to stand up to these people, legally of course. Right now the well is done and we are fenced they can't do another thing to us but bill us and we can prove it isn't owed. So far they have cut the fence or even came near our place since. No worries we intend to win this battle as this is our home and we are here to stay.
Thanks everyone for your support.
Maggie and Chel

[froggie]

good to see things are starting to settle down some!!!!

good luck and keep us posted!!!

Delana