I have been trying to build a pool. The city has been denying my building permit for one thing after the other. I even printed and emailed them a copy of the city’s zoning laws for my area, showing that my pool is in compliance. They responded by forwarding an email from the consultants who handle their building permitting process, again denying my permit by choosing to infer something into the code that isn’t there, and drawing a legal opinion based upon that inferred phrase.
Looking up the consultants, they are a firm that specializes in “protecting the environment by controlling community growth.” The woman who is giving her legal analysis? She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, not law.
So I have a decision to make on whether or not I should sue. Suing them will be very expensive, like tens of thousands of dollars, with no guarantee that I will win.
I hate all levels of government. It’s things like this that sometimes make me believe that a Somalia style anarchy wouldn’t be as bad as this is. I am trying to build a pool, not commit genocide. This town is so small that it doesn’t have a fire department, and more than half of its residents don’t even have sewage and rely on septic tanks, but they are worried about protecting the environment from my swimming pool.
I should run for town council and, once in office, go on a DOGE style firing rampage.
17 Comments
SoCoRuss · March 17, 2025 at 12:28 pm
From my personal experience, very few to none of the .GOV drones running and making decisions on things currently has any experience or knowledge or professional degrees in the programs and departments they run. But what the hell we cant let that little racist tidbit stop them now.
Billybob · March 17, 2025 at 2:21 pm
Great idea
Do it!
J · March 17, 2025 at 2:51 pm
As opposed to suing, maybe a first step could be to reach out to Florida Department of Regulation and Licensing and the Florida BAR. If the consultant is practicing law without a license, that’s a big no-no. Might not get you your pool, but maybe a pound of flesh and some justice.
John in Indy · March 17, 2025 at 3:21 pm
THIS. You absolutely should run for Town Council, and if you can, get reliable friends to do the same.
Also, try to get reasonable people to run for the School Board, Library Board, and any other local offices that may be available.
Anonymous · March 17, 2025 at 4:09 pm
As a former Town Supervisor, I speak from experience. You need to go to the actual Monthly Meeting and speak to them. This way it is in public and on record.
You can also contact the local paper as those leeches thrive on town politic crap. It may even go regional which will cause the Board Members to panic.
That is the easy way to do it.
Suing the town will only cause you problems down the line as they will simply tax you to pay for the entire thing, including your “winnings”.
Other than that, getting elected will be the easy part. Once in you’re going to deal with nepotism and all the things that come with the incest that is small town politics. Also be prepared to shit a brick once you find out the books are cooked and the accounts unbalanced. You can’t do this alone, you will need running mates.
chiefjaybob · March 17, 2025 at 9:04 pm
This is the way. Your village board/city council probably does not know these rejections are even taking place. Start by contacting the board president/mayor. Go to a meeting, lay out your story, and ask for guidance. Be prepared to be told, “We’ll look into it.” Go back the following month. It’s a pain in the ass, but cheaper than suing.
Danny · March 17, 2025 at 4:59 pm
Sounds like they must not be getting the adequate kickback if your project goes through. They must not have “friends” or relatives in the pool construction business. I take it the constructors are coming in from another area.
SP RN · March 17, 2025 at 5:12 pm
It’s why I’m running for the board of our condo association. Local politics is where it starts, where I can gain entry, and where the battle to be won affects our living situation directly and daily.
The election is Thursday at 6pm. Deep breath, hold it, let it out.
Anonymous · March 17, 2025 at 7:44 pm
put is an above ground pool – no building permit is required.
Divemedic · March 17, 2025 at 7:52 pm
Not permitted. Not only that, I have a $700 house. I’m not about to make it look like the Beverly Hillbillies live here.
Modern Day Jeremiah · March 18, 2025 at 9:37 am
The Beverly Hillbillies had a pretty nice shack, AND a “concrete pond.”
Dan D. · March 17, 2025 at 10:23 pm
Screw the pool, use the funds to construct DiveDozer 2.0 immediately!
Joe Blow · March 18, 2025 at 6:04 am
You’d get my vote, and I’s can’t stands ya’s!
LOL! No, seriously, yuks aside, anyone wanting to take on the role of inhuman wrecking ball to any and every form of government should immediately be supported financially by the entire country. Federal grants from USAID!
I’ve got my own beef’s w/ my localities building inspectors…I live on 15 acres in farm country surrounded by cattle and a state naturalized area. The 8×12 shed I built to park my mower in, allegedly needs to be inspected and certified. For my safety.
EN2 SS · March 18, 2025 at 8:31 am
Believe it or not, that crap has been going on for over fifty years in my personal experience. I was a house mover, real houses not mobile homes, in the 80’s. A customer wanted to move an “A” Frame home into a neighborhood in Austin, Tx and followed all the rules of the commie city. Permission was repeatedly denied, so we went to the Planning Commission that was refusing permission. ONE member refused to allow the move because he didn’t like the looks of the house or how it would look in the neighborhood. FYI, no other structure would be within 100 yards of the location. Finally the city attorney had to stand up and tell that asshole either approve the move or get ready to lose in court in the suit the homeowner had already notified him that was going to be filed. The leftist war on decency/rule of law has been going on for a LONG time and will NEVER end until/unless enough people kick them in the head. Good luck.
Gryphon · March 18, 2025 at 5:04 pm
“…the consultants who handle their building permitting process…” Get Face-to-Face with the CITY Official in charge of that ‘building permit’ process, and tell them that ‘subcontracting’ their Job likely means that they are taking some kind of ‘kickback’ from the ‘consultants.’ Then go make that Accusation at a City Council Meeting, call the bureaucrat Corrupt. They have NO RECOURSE against an Accusation of Corruption, under the First Amendment Rules.
Also, Find Out where that ‘consultant’ Lives. Pay them a Visit, at Home, and tell them you believe they are Illegally Interfering with your Rights. Dox them, follow the School Bus that picks up their Children (if applicable). If they Whine, Demand that the City Attorney justify their Actions, and Demand the City Defend them. If you do ‘take it to Court’, have that bitch’s Name at the Top of the List.
Carrie · March 21, 2025 at 7:21 am
Good advice from Gryphon.
One thing to add to what he said:
When you go to visit the city councilman (or whomever), bring your phone with a “tape recorder” with you. To record the conversation.
Before doing this, check the FL state laws, to see if it is “one-party approval” on needing (or not) to notify the person in advance, that you are recording the conversation.
I’d imagine in FL, it is a one-party approval state. That way, you can just lay down your phone on his desk, press Record, and say “this is on record. So, tell me about your pool subcontractors…”
It will either put him on notice or blow up.
Either way, in my experience, it has an impact that can be useful later.
And these days it’s very easy to get a transcript done (see also Grain.com), to use at the next town council meeting.
Just my unsolicited $.02.
Divemedic · March 21, 2025 at 7:53 am
Florida is a two party state.
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