Last Angry Farm Part IV (I'm losing count)

Continuing saga of the last dairy farm that is within village limits. New farming is illegal but old farms are grandfathered in. Right on the State Highway Route 7 and the new Interstate 88, and right across the street from a Stewarts Shop/gas station. Otsego County, New York.

Seems he's gone full-time into making signs. A new one was there yesterday and another new one today.

To rehash the story - as I've heard it. The local game warden - technically now known as an Environmental Law Officer - entered the farmer's land without asking permission to look at a camper that's parked way up on the hill (see photo). The farmer found him there, they got in a argument and said farmer told the guy to leave. The officer claimed he can enter anyone's land without permission because he's a law enforcement official.

Not long after, a dead raccoon was found near the farmer's barn, that had been shot with a .22. The Environmental cop accused the farmer of illegally using a firearm too close to the road and gave him a summons, or arrested him - or something to that extent.

Since then, the signs have been our local "soap opera." Seems the farmer wants to run for office (Town Councilman). Also is ticked off at the Otsego County DA (district attorney John Muehl) and the game warden/forest ranger Mark Vancek.

Looks like things are getting tense.

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He'd better get some video surveillance up, and quick. The next thing the game warden will "discover" is a game animal shot out of season, on the property. Then it will get serious.

This is what happens when city slickers get put in charge. Makes them 'libtarded. That camper isn't hurting ANYONE.

In order to trespass to look at the camper wouldn't there need to be some kind of probable cause to look at it? Meth lab, drug house, something. Just storing a camper out in the open isn't illegal is it?

I don't have any of this info "first-hand." As told to me - some people who frequent the Stewarts Shop called in a "complaint" to our Town Board. That complaint was that the camper has a small TV antenna on it -and therefore becomes a building instead of a camper. Since we have no local law enforcement - the Encon Officer was called to investigate. He lives in town. He COULD of just approached the farmer first and asked about it. But it seems he decided to sneak in, instead.

To be technical - campers are legal if parked and not being used as campers - or - legal if camped in for a short period of time. If a camper starts to look permanent - it becomes classified as a "building" or "residence" and then must meet all code specs, have a permit, a COE, etc. Usually, when a camper gets a foundation built under it, tires taken off, flower garden planted, etc. - it's suspect. But a TV antenna? Seems a bit silly to me. Especially on a something-hundred acre farm.

He the angry farmer didn't run his car into a light pole when drunk on 4th of July weekend (and ask the arresting trooper for oral gratification)or have a physical altercation with a council member in city hall, he's over qualified to be our mayor!

Didn't Hank Williams sing a song like " mind your own business then you won't be minding mine". Sound like that is a song that a lot of those people need to listen to.

On the last post I had stated he might have a better case if the farmer kept his place a little more organized.

But...
If that camper WAY WAY back there is what started all this, the town is clearly harrassing the guy.

Rick

My camper has an antenna on it too. Glad it's inside.

The farmer has a probable case of illegal trespass against the econ officer, if he did not invite him on to his farm. Having a camper on your property is not probable cause to go snooping around on someone's property.Whether he has the money to file an action against the econ officer is another matter and it would be like fighting city hall doing so.The econ officer does not have a case against the farmer if he just found a dead coon in his barnlot, unless there were witnesses. If the farmer had a lawyer and fought the dead coon charge I think he could beat it in court. Question is it gets expensive to legal fight all that stuff, possibly more than a penalty in court would be. The econ officer appears to have bitten off more than he should have, overstepped his bounds if he was just responding to a citizen concern.

LJD,

One of the smartest guys in our high school class (a really nice farm boy and a wiz) attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, and went off the deep end. He has a small, rundown farm with those same crudely constructed signs all along the highway in front of his farm.

They're always politically oriented, but seldom make any sense.

What causes guys to think this is a good idea?

Tom in TN

The ole farmer's got spunk.

and ya know.. I'm kinda siding with him.

too many people are concerned with too many things on the OTHER side of their fence.

if everyone stuck to looking at their side of ghe fence.. things would be easier.

I got some moron in my community that keeps turning me into animal control saying I have starving animals.. of course animal control takes the call anonymously.. and has to investigate every claim of animal cruelty.

it's at the poit where the AC officer gave me her cell # and i geve her mine and she calls me every time a complaint comes in.. drives out.. takes pics and leaves, closing the case. my horses are FAT except for one old 30yr old one with 1 eye... who is NORMAL sized...

go figure..

soundguy

Irregardless of what started it, who would vote to be represented by such an irrational, childish character? Similar incident near here years ago between a sheriff and a nut case.

(quoted from post at 18:58:35 02/18/12) The ole farmer's got spunk.

and ya know.. I'm kinda siding with him.

too many people are concerned with too many things on the OTHER side of their fence.

if everyone stuck to looking at their side of ghe fence.. things would be easier.

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I have never understood people who think they need to have a say in everyone else's business. Seems like these days someone has to have their say in how you raise your kid, who you can/can't marry, what you drive, what you eat, what build/change on your own property or in your own home.

I guess I can see the public interest if what you do effects other people... but it seems like most of the time it's about one group not liking how another one lives and trying to take what makes them happy away.

yes, things are intensifying. i am still behind him 100%. the underlying reason for this is harassment of an "uneducated,dirty farmer"
(in thier eyes). yes, he should put up some cameras. they'll burn him out or sumthing. OH WAIT---that would take some backbone.
these type of people hide behind books and run in packs. i've seen them at the mall texting constantly and drinking $6 coffee.

My camper (travel trailer) came equipped with a TV antenna. Raise it when parked, lower it when travelling. BTW: a law enforcement officer (LEO) acting under "colour of law" is not trespassing, otherwise he/she is.

(quoted from post at 02:22:37 02/19/12) BTW: a law enforcement officer (LEO) acting under "colour of law" is not trespassing, otherwise he/she is.

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That depends entirely upon the state laws where you reside. In Alaska, an ungated driveway is considered an "invitation" to approach the residence and attempt contact, not to access any other part of the property. To go anywhere other than the front door they need a search warrant.

The proper title is "NYS Environmental Conservation Officer". If the nut job farmer wanted to address the issue properly the way to do it is to go through channels at DEC, make a personnel complaint against the EnCon Officer for trespass and determine exactly why he was allegedly trying to enforce a local zoning law. Instead he ends up being the local nutjob farmer.