The other day, I received a call from the Reynolds Law Firm, which has handled our legal business in various matters over the years, telling me that they had a letter which they needed to either return to me or shred in order to protect my confidentiality. I was fairly certain that it wasn't anything with current relevance, but was still curious, so I went by and picked it up.
I was glad that I did. It was good to have a little reminder of Kathe's quietly fierce intellect in my hand for a moment. In the midst of our (valiant and energetic, though ultimately failed) effort to save our home from the hostile attentions of the City of Corvallis, Kathe gave a member of the city's bureaucracy a piece of her mind, and it was a pleasure to have it back.
Mr. W****:
Since we talked with you, I have continued to try to find a way to work on our decrepit outbuildings in a way that would satisfy the city. However, it doesn't seem that there is any such thing. I have continued to call and where possible interview people who might assist us with the work that (in my opinion) needs to be done. I was keeping a running account of my efforts but have decided to simply summarize them. At this time I have spoken with a small family business which will undertake to clear the debris from the yard and with a fencing contractor that I feel sure would do a good job. I have not yet found someone who would be willing to drop plans that would be acceptable to the city, but I have made some progress toward that end.
Over the past weekend, I looked at my notes and decided that since I had gotten no callbacks from any structural engineer, my next effort would be to call on them unannounced and see if anyone would talk to me. Yesterday, I spoke with Mr. David Flemings of Clair, who said he would look into the situation and see what advice he could give us. We happily accepted.
This morning, a couple of city representatives appeared on our porch and asked me to sign a paper that they mischaracterized as a vitally necessary permission for them to start hiring contractors to demolish our property on our behalf. They referred to the paper as permission to "abate or demolish" but as my husband pointed out to them, it really said "abate by demolition". They again referred to "your dangerous house" (I am so getting tired of that phrase). I signed, but I checked " Do Not (agree)" and they went away.
This is what we want:
First, agreement to our plan for remediation. We want to remove the part of the auxiliary structure that rests on decaying timbers, to retain the garage and later to put a foundation under the garage walls and to and to restore the back stairway and porch to a usable condition.
Second, permission to do some work ourselves now, or as soon as conditions permit. This would include clearance of some, if not all, of the debris in the yard. It would also include restoring the steps to the stairway (the one that is so very attractive to "small children"), rebuilding the porch, and replacing the door, if we can find one that will fit the space.
Third, to be allowed to enter the garage, both to clear debris and to work on the roof, and later, to use it to store yard equipment, tools, and materials, while the rest of the work proceeds.
Fourth, to be addressed as people with a problem (and one which arguably the city ought to have helped us with from the start), not people who are a problem. In short, we want the city's people to speak with us politely and honestly, and without bullying.
5th, if they know of contractors who would be willing to work with us, as opposed to contractors who are willing to work with the city, that they give us their names.
Kathleen and John Burt
If the city had dealt with us in a reasonable and decent fashion, that lovely old house would still be standing and I might well still be living in it. The house at the corner of 10th and Jefferson could be a showpiece of the community instead of an empty socket in the city's jaw.
And couples would still be getting their pictures taken under the branches of the cedar tree arching over the sidewalk.
The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Look and see."
