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This petition was signed by Township residents and forwarded to the Board of Supervisors on December 12, 2005 (3 months after her permitted project was halted):
A PETITION TO REQUEST TIMELY RESPONSE TO ALLOW FELLOW RESIDENT AND FLOOD VICTIM TO REPAIR AND PROTECT PROPERTY
We, the undersigned, do hereby request a waiver of Cease and Desist Order given fellow resident and victim of extensive flooding from Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 and again in April (2005) [again in June 2006]* to repair an existing stream bank.
We feel the Zoning Ordinances referred to in the Cease and Desist are excessively burdensome and inapplicable to the exact nature of the reparation needed.
Many of us who have experienced the devastating effects of both Hurricane Ivan and the flooding of April 3, 2005, and who live in constant state of alert with each report of persistent rain and storms and how it will again affect our homes and lives, understand both the immediate and long-term physical, emotional and financial burden that these storms have brought upon our lives. We also understand that a Cease and Desist Order has been placed upon a fellow township resident and victim of these floods..who is attempting to repair her property [replace what was washed away], which has been in a state of devastation since September of 2004.
This resident has not only lived without access to her home for over a year, throughout the winter months and storms, but has lost time, money and has had life disrupted in a long-term effort to repair her property, being primarily involved in a long-term fundraising... In addition, the nature of her damage, with no access to her home, has made it impossible to remove large debris and ruined belongings from her home that still remain from September 2004, and in effect, she has not yet been able to get back to a normal life. As so many of us who were affected by the floods have - in some way - begun to see progress, this particular resident has spent an enormous amount of additional time and effort in fundraising for an [adjacent] township project. Now, of her own accord, costs and initiatives, she is prepared to repair her property having received permitting by all other primary agencies (that deal primarily with these issues), their blessings, and a nod to the urgency of the situation. She is now in the midst of yet another storm season, and heading directly into winter without protection.
Not only do we feel that [the township's actions] are ...adding further undo burden to a fellow resident who has undergone an already abundant stressful and debilitating time, but it reflects an insensitivity on the part of the township to what township residents have experienced over the last year, including the continuous ..concern with each persistent rainfall lasting more than several hours, and is leaving her vulnerable to more severe damage. In the last several weeks alone, we have all watched with anxiousness as continuous rains on two consecutive weekends have brought the levels of water to within comparable limits to Ivan. In our opinion, it is unconscionable to turn a blind eye to the urgency of this situation. Flooding is a very serious issue - statewide and nationwide; not something to be taken lightly. It has disrupted lives, destroyed property, and caused immeasurable stress and burden on so many of our residents. Under the circumstances, it would seem that the township would do everything possible to facilitate, not hinder, a timely repair that a resident is willing to take on her own (with no government funds) in order to protect her home and safety.
In the spirit of the Township Mission Statement: "..to prevent the loss of life and property, to prevent the creation of health and safety hazards, and to prevent the extraordinary and unnecessary expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief..." it seems inconsistent, counterproductive and harmful.. under the circumstances. We would hope the township would act in a manner that recognizes this resident is doing everything possible to protect herself and move on with her life. As our elected representatives, we - as a representative group of voting residents - expect that you would act in a manner consistent with the township statement.. and respectfully request that you ..waive the Cease & Desist order and enable [her] to begin to protect her home and safety. It is of utmost importance to us as residents to feel that you, as our elected representatives, are responsive to our plight, individually as well as a whole, as we see it as a reflection of the level of sensitivity on the part of the township to residents' needs."
This petition has been subsequently ignored.
