LETTER: Says no one willing to take responsibility for property

We bought a home in Jacob’s Field Subdivision. Our neighbors are great. All of our yards are very well maintained. Just one huge eyesore that no one seems to be concerned with, except for those of us who live in Jacob’s Field.

There is a house in this subdivision that has been unfinished for almost two years. It is open and has been vandalized. It is very unsightly and very unsafe.

We have asked the builder, Hank Baker, to meet with us and tell us his plans for the property. He has not. I have spoken with the developer, Brad Howard, who has told me his hands are tied. I have spoken with the realtor, Bruce Azevedo, who tells me every time “two more weeks.”

I have spoken to Eddie Pritchett at the county building inspections office. He came out and looked at the property.

A little work was done on the property and then it was abandoned again.

The covenants of Jacob’s Field state that homes here will appear to be professionally landscaped at all times, that they will be kept safe, etc. This property does not meet any of these standards. A copy of these covenants were filed with the county commission when the subdivision was being developed. I have contacted Commissioner Mike Youngblood, hoping that he could help me or at least guide me toward someone who would help. Unfortunately, he has not returned any of my calls nor has he replied to any of my e-mails.

Through my quest to find help, I think I have figured out the politics of Madison County. It is all about the “good old boy” network. It seems to me that if you are not part of that network, there is no help in Madison County for you. Your calls go unreturned, e-mails are ignored and requests for help in a simple matter are totally unheard. I see that I am not part of this network and, therefore, there is no help for me.

Perhaps the commissioners of Madison County should realize that those of us who are not “from” Madison County have moved here with the hopes of a good quality of life. Perhaps they should also reflect on the fact that we are paying taxes and voting in Madison County now. In fact, we are helping pay their salary now.

While the county commission plans for future development, perhaps they should vote no to every project before them until they are ready to help those of us who are not originally from Madison County. Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Youngblood will help someone who is not in his network of good old boys, or maybe those of us who are not part of his network will eventually move and take all of our tax dollars to a different county — one that welcomes us.

Sincerely,

Kelley Padgitt

Hull