I am currently working on a project that involves subdividing an 80 acre tract into several smaller tracts, reportedly for future sales. The client is a church and ministry, and the owner of the property. The only residence on the 80 acres is rental property and the lady that lives there is starting to be a pain in the butt. I'm really ignorant of her agreement with the record owner. My contact with the owners has told me "she is a renter and shouldn't be any problem".
There is a coded security gate into the property. I should have known something was up when the code provided by the owner worked the first day, and not the second time we were out there. Guess who changed it? The tenant had been noticeably invisible the first day we were there and we were told she knew we were coming and we had free range of the property. After I contacted my clients about the code change on the security gate their rep met me on site and I was finally introduced to the tenant.
"..Shouldn't be any problem" is not the way I would describe this woman. This fella from the church (my contact) stands around with his hat in his hand and treats her like she's the Queen of Sheba. I can tell he's deathly afraid of upsetting her. When he and I FINALLY had some time alone I explained to him I needed to know if this lady had anything to do with the dealings. If so, we should include her in the process. If not, I may actually have to get brusque with her if she impedes my work. He once again reiterated she was just a tenant and our subdivision of the property should proceed as planned. Okie-doaky.
This lady has a few horses, a barn and stables and a nice pasture pen up by the house. It's really a bucolic and quant place, but per instructions the house is to be placed on a 10 acre tract with a specific amount of frontage per city requirements. Dividing the area per plans will relieve her house site of the barn, stable and pasture. She is not aware of that. I finally figured out why nobody at the church wants to talk to her.
After the fella from the church left the tenant lady came back outside and started explaining how she "really wanted" everything to be laid out. I would have preferred to wrap her mouth shut with duct tape and tie her to her own porch post, but I resisted. I showed her the proposed layout that we were pretty much going to have to stick with and she had a meltdown. I wish her wishy-washy landlords would have explained to her what was going on and not left it up to me.
After she had said "I'm not going to let THAT happen" (talking about relieving her of the barn and pasture)...I asked her, "So you own the property?" No. She's lived there twenty something years as a renter. But she somehow thinks everything should be to her approval. I was actually able to get her talons out of me after a while and continue on with what were doing.
When I left I called my client and asked him if the church had any sort of rental agreement or lease. Probably not he tells me, but it has always been "understood" she just rented the house. In years past the church maintained the horse and stables as a spot to bring young folks involved in their ministry to enjoy horseback riding. Over the years this tenant has become so hard to get along with no one wants to deal with her and the church doesn't even keep any animals there anymore. She has just kind of squatted on the whole place and rules the area like she is the "queen bee".
My "not to exceed" quote on the fees may have to adjusted if we're required to play this lady's silly little games. I really feel it's the owner's responsibility to keep her out of my hair. The church has an attorney that is gathering the title work and I should be talking with him next week. We'll see if he can get a muzzle on her somehow.
Oh, and she changed the security code...again.
I thought surveyin' wuz supposed to be all 'bout measurin' stuff preeecisely. Wut's idiot management gotta do wid it? Dat's sumbuddy else's problum.
How bout disablin' da gate wid toolz normally found in yer chariot.
I'll just leave this here...
HUGH L. GEORGE, TEXAS RPS #1 STATED IN THE TSA SHORT COURSE IN 1956:
ÛÏLET ME SAY FIRST, THAT IN MY JUDGEMENT THERE IS NO OTHER PROFESSIONAL MAN WHO MUST BE VERSED IN SO MANY SUBJECTS AS THE MODERN TEXAS SURVEYOR.
HE MUST BE SKILLED IN THE USE OF SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS, DRAFTING EQUIPMENT AND CALCULATING MACHINES.
HE MUST BE A MATHEMATICIAN OF THE FIRST ORDER
HE MUST BE NO ORDINARY BOTANIST
HE MUST BE A FAIR ABSTRACTER
HE MUST BE A CAPABLE PHOTOGRAPHER
HE MUST BE A GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS MAN
HE MUST BE AN EXPERT INVESTIGATOR
HE MUST HAVE A CATALOGED KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THE BOUNDARY LAW THAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN TEXAS
HE MUST HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN NATURE
HE MUST HAVE A KEEN SENSE OF HUMOR
AND MOST IMPORTANT OF THEM ALL, HE MUST HAVE UN-PROVOCATIVE PATIENCE
SURVEYORS, LIKE OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, HAVE PERSONALITIES, ALL OF WHICH ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. EVEN THOUGH THE GENERAL METHODS OF SURVEYING HAVE BEEN MUCH THE SAME, STILL EVERY SURVEYOR DEVELOPS CERTAIN TRAITS, WHICH LEAVE A DEFINITE PATTERN. THESE PATTERNS, WHEN CAREFULLY STUDIED, LEAVE A TRAIL WHICH CAN BE FOLLOWED, AND LEADS TO IDENTIFICATION OF THE PARTICULAR SURVEYORÛªS WORK.Û
Monte, post: 388325, member: 11913 wrote: I'll just leave this here...
HE MUST HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN NATURE
HE MUST HAVE A KEEN SENSE OF HUMOR
AND MOST IMPORTANT OF THEM ALL, HE MUST HAVE UN-PROVOCATIVE PATIENCE...Û
I actually possess all of those attributes. I also possess a vintage Remington-Rand M1911 .45 ACP. At any given time I reserve the right to choose which of these I utilize..;)
I'm just a little taken by the pussy-footing my client is exhibiting. If I weren't a professional I'd call it downright chickensh*t. But being a professional I will avoid the use of derogatory adverbs concerning my client's behavior. Somebody is eventually going to have to deal with this biddy. Dumping it on an innocent surveyor is immature and irresponsible. You can bet I will eventually give my client a piece of my mind...after the check clears, of course.
I agree with you 100%. It should not be your place to explain to the tenet what is happening to the land she is renting. The people who own the land are wanting to make changes, and as such, they should explain it to her. I will not be surprised if she is able to produce a rental contract or agreement from her records (since that would throw the biggest wrench into the plans). I am actually in the process of writing an article on leadership, and how many folks want to lead, but want to stand to the side and watch their ideas magically happen, not understanding that leading means getting out there, making things happen, making decisions, having discussions with people. The landowners are wanting you to do their work so they dont look mean and nasty to this renter. Is it too late to add a line item to your bill for "smoothing the way"?
Monte, post: 388335, member: 11913 wrote: ..Is it too late to add a line item to your bill for "smoothing the way"?
Absolutely not. I understand there are buyers standing in the wings awaiting municipal approval of the lot creation; speed and quick approval is the uniform of the day. A common man would say "I got 'em by the balls". :scream:
Speaking of leadership...
Originally as a high school drop-out that wound up surveying because my father (a surveyor) wasn't going to let me "sit around and listen to my hair grow"; I learned to follow instructions on survey crews. I learned this from some men that weren't particularly happy with the idea of having me around.
As time passed I rose to the occasion and eventually supervised a good number of employees in some very successful endeavors. Like it or not, I was their "leader". And the one thing that I always kept in the back of mind was something an old surveyor told me..."A good leader must first learn to be a good follower". I believe that to this day. I use to have a practice when a newby was hired of spending the whole day with him. During that day I would tell them to "follow me and watch". I would then execute the very functions they were hired to perform..in the manner I wished them to. I also wanted them to know I wasn't asking them to do anything I wouldn't, or couldn't do. I've had a lot of good help come out of that.
Fast forward to the present. My youngest son (41 years old) has always been a bit on the lazy side. He opted to spend as much time as he could in school. My opinion was that he was avoiding getting a job...He now has an MBA (which automatically makes him smarter than me) and teaches seminars on "leadership" in project specific environments. His opinion is a leader should be a task master and lord over a team in an almost hostile environment. If you don't create that atmosphere, you've failed as a leader. Team failure is not a reflection of the leader, but of the individual's of the teams shortcomings according to his high-brow book learning. I disagree about 150% with his opinions, but this apparently may be the norm nowadays....jeez I hope not...
paden cash, post: 388339, member: 20 wrote: His opinion is a leader should be a task master
My first surveying job was under a guy like that. In his view, if your staff wasn't pissed off at you they wouldn't work hard. It wasn't a pleasant situation, and I was happy to leave it behind.
I don't really follow that kind of leader very well myself. When I. In a position to lead, I expect the ones under me to do what they are asked, but I'm open to ideas of improvement. We succeeded as a team, or I failed as a leader. If I cannot get my group to focus on their task, and brute force seems like an option, wow I screwed up!
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paden cash, post: 388339, member: 20 wrote: Absolutely not. I understand there are buyers standing in the wings awaiting municipal approval of the lot creation; speed and quick approval is the uniform of the day. A common man would say "I got 'em by the balls". :scream:
Speaking of leadership...Originally as a high school drop-out that wound up surveying because my father (a surveyor) wasn't going to let me "sit around and listen to my hair grow"; I learned to follow instructions on survey crews. I learned this from some men that weren't particularly happy with the idea of having me around.
As time passed I rose to the occasion and eventually supervised a good number of employees in some very successful endeavors. Like it or not, I was their "leader". And the one thing that I always kept in the back of mind was something an old surveyor told me..."A good leader must first learn to be a good follower". I believe that to this day. I use to have a practice when a newby was hired of spending the whole day with him. During that day I would tell them to "follow me and watch". I would then execute the very functions they were hired to perform..in the manner I wished them to. I also wanted them to know I wasn't asking them to do anything I wouldn't, or couldn't do. I've had a lot of good help come out of that.
Fast forward to the present. My youngest son (41 years old) has always been a bit on the lazy side. He opted to spend as much time as he could in school. My opinion was that he was avoiding getting a job...He now has an MBA (which automatically makes him smarter than me) and teaches seminars on "leadership" in project specific environments. His opinion is a leader should be a task master and lord over a team in an almost hostile environment. If you don't create that atmosphere, you've failed as a leader. Team failure is not a reflection of the leader, but of the individual's of the teams shortcomings according to his high-brow book learning. I disagree about 150% with his opinions, but this apparently may be the norm nowadays....jeez I hope not...
We aren't happy until you aren't happy.
The pussyfooting around the tenant may have to do with church membership dynamics. If the tenant is beloved (or it is perceived) then the leadership may be avoiding the inevitable toe stepping on members. Members are needed to have a viable church financially. Frankly, a lot of clergy have trouble with the leadership thing.
A demonstration of the way things SHOULD NOT be done.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200138/
The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
We are portrayed as part of the cruel, heartless approach to wealth in modern society.
This happened to be on TV in the middle of the night a few days ago. Watched about 30 minutes in the middle.
Dave Karoly, post: 388343, member: 94 wrote: ...The pussyfooting around the tenant may have to do with church membership dynamics...
I wondered. So I asked if she was a relative of some founding member or something. Nope, not even a member of the church. Weird deal. From what I have gathered the property belonged to a member of the church that donated it upon his demise. Apparently she came along with the deal. And he hinted that she pays a pretty small sum for rent.
Being around her for five minutes is like enduring 24 hours of "fingernails across a chalkboard". I cannot understand what I have done to receive this form of Karma.....
I was actually thinking of emailing my client a copy of the statutes that layout the legal eviction process....but I think I'll stick to surveying...
paden cash, post: 388351, member: 20 wrote: I wondered. So I asked if she was a relative of some founding member or something. Nope, not even a member of the church. Weird deal. From what I have gathered the property belonged to a member of the church that donated it upon his demise. Apparently she came along with the deal. And he hinted that she pays a pretty small sum for rent.
Being around her for five minutes is like enduring 24 hours of "fingernails across a chalkboard". I cannot understand what I have done to receive this form of Karma.....
I was actually thinking of emailing my client a copy of the statutes that layout the legal eviction process....but I think I'll stick to surveying...
Well then it's just a standard issue bully. She'll get away with it until someone finally grows a backbone.
Wow, if she truly has no legal rights to the property, it seems like it should be a very simple thing for some church representatives to tell her "Ms. Tenant, the church leadership has decided it is time sell some of our property. We are sorry to inform you that it will affect your current use of the property, but it is necessary for the good of the church. We would like for you to remain as a tenant on the platted property, but if this decision inclines you to find a new place of residence, we wish you well."
They need to evict her ASAP. If she is this belligerent towards a survey crew, imagine how she will behave with prospective purchasers and developers. Her rights are quite limited, it would seem. The sooner she departs, the better.
Paden, it of course goes without saying, which is why I am saying it, She may feel like she has lived there long enough that she now sees that stuff as hers! And will defend it... Make sure your guys keep their heads up and paying attention. Changing the gate code is an indication she is saying go away, so what might her next step be? Keep that Rem-Rand close by.
Holy Cow, post: 388363, member: 50 wrote: They need to evict her ASAP. If she is this belligerent towards a survey crew, imagine how she will behave with prospective purchasers and developers. Her rights are quite limited, it would seem. The sooner she departs, the better.
When I get the title work from the attorney next week I'd like to pry into the probate that originally delivered the property to the church. I'd like to see if there's any mention of her or a rental agreement. I think the church 'management' (I don't know what else to call them...deacons?) has just pussied out over the years in dealing with her. On one hand, I don't blame anyone for wanting to avoid her. But if the church is in the process of divesting assets for cash, somebody needs to tell her.
I agree, but don't let her go being like the Indians, thinking if they stopped the surveyors they'd stop progress.
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paden cash, post: 388370, member: 20 wrote: When I get the title work from the attorney next week I'd like to pry into the probate that originally delivered the property to the church. I'd like to see if there's any mention of her or a rental agreement. I think the church 'management' (I don't know what else to call them...deacons?) has just pussied out over the years in dealing with her. On one hand, I don't blame anyone for wanting to avoid her. But if the church is in the process of divesting assets for cash, somebody needs to tell her.
That sounds like the best thing to do. If she "came with the property," it sounds very possible there is some type of agreement that the church leaders don't know about, or have forgotten about.
[QUOTE="Monte, post: 388342, member: We succeeded as a team, or I failed as a leader.
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That's true most of the time. Monte
You can lead a horse to water too, but I still ain't figured out how to make it drink Monte.
I don't want my reply to sound like I am being a smartass, but all my horses learn to drink when given a chance. It comes from there not being much water out here, so I stop at every place they could get a drink. They usually choose not to the first few mornings, but I have one now that will stop a parade to drink from each puddle we pass.
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