Darin
No Longer Here
I got this out of Maintenece mag this month.
Its our tax dollar at work.
JOHN THOBURN FREED FROM JAIL
As we reported earlier, John Thoburn, a driving range owner in Fairfax, Va., was jailed ostensibly for failing to comply with county zoning regulations regarding trees planted on the driving range as a screen from adjacent neighbors. Thoburn finally is free after spending nearly 3 months in jail.
A judge ordered Thoburn jailed and fined $1,000 for each day he refused to comply. Thoburn chose jail rather than comply with what he considered heavy-handed treatment by Fairfax County officials.
Thoburn originally spent well over $100,000 on landscaping to comply with county ordinances. However, the county, after initially approving Thoburn`s operations, returned and ordered Thoburn to make additional changes at considerable additional expense. Thoburn refused, and so eventually landed in jail.
Though Thoburn is now free, the judge has authorized the county to perform the landscape work itself, and then bill Thoburn, who also is responsible fro paying a $48,500 fine. Nevertheless, Thoburn has declared victory, noting that the county did not force him to close his business, which he contends was the ultimate goal of Fairfax officials.
More information about this story is available at www.freejohnthoburn.com.
Its our tax dollar at work.
JOHN THOBURN FREED FROM JAIL
As we reported earlier, John Thoburn, a driving range owner in Fairfax, Va., was jailed ostensibly for failing to comply with county zoning regulations regarding trees planted on the driving range as a screen from adjacent neighbors. Thoburn finally is free after spending nearly 3 months in jail.
A judge ordered Thoburn jailed and fined $1,000 for each day he refused to comply. Thoburn chose jail rather than comply with what he considered heavy-handed treatment by Fairfax County officials.
Thoburn originally spent well over $100,000 on landscaping to comply with county ordinances. However, the county, after initially approving Thoburn`s operations, returned and ordered Thoburn to make additional changes at considerable additional expense. Thoburn refused, and so eventually landed in jail.
Though Thoburn is now free, the judge has authorized the county to perform the landscape work itself, and then bill Thoburn, who also is responsible fro paying a $48,500 fine. Nevertheless, Thoburn has declared victory, noting that the county did not force him to close his business, which he contends was the ultimate goal of Fairfax officials.
More information about this story is available at www.freejohnthoburn.com.