PERMIT SWR-2017-0418.
AUTHORIZED FLOOD MITIGATION STRUCTURE.
Parcel 7A.
Issued April 18, 2017.
The gym went silent.
Curtis spoke.
“The structure your filing repeatedly characterizes as unstable and unauthorized was a permitted stormwater mitigation asset.”
He clicked.
Construction inspection.
Click.
Final certification.
Click.
Hydrology database entry.
Click.
2018 performance review after major rainfall.
Then Curtis looked directly at Wendell.
“It was not causing downstream flood risk.”
“It was reducing it.”
Karen frowned at the screen.
I realized she had never seen the permit.
That told me everything about the quality of her investigation.
Rebecca looked toward me.
“Would the parcel owner like to address the panel?”
I stood.
Walked to the podium.
Set the folder down.
“My name is the name on the deed for Parcel 7A.”
I held up the certified plat.
“This is the recorded 1998 Cedar Ridge plat.”
I placed it under the document camera.
Parcel 7A appeared outside the boundary.
“This tract is expressly labeled unincorporated and non-HOA.”
I displayed the recorded covenant.
“Parcel 7A is not among the included properties.”
Then the certified-mail receipt.
“Eighteen months ago, Cedar Ridge invited me to join voluntarily.”
“I declined.”
Then Karen’s letter.
“Six weeks later, the board sent this.”
I read the title.
“Notice of Courtesy Reclassification.”
Several people laughed quietly.
Rebecca did not.
I continued.
“This informed me that the HOA had voted to expand its service zone to include my property.”
Diane stood.
“I need to enter something into the record.”
Rebecca nodded.
Diane walked forward holding minutes.
“I am the Cedar Ridge treasurer.”
“The annexation vote was three to two.”
“I voted no.”
“Margaret Foley voted no.”
“Our objection was recorded.”
“Parcel 7A was outside the subdivision plat.”
“Margaret submitted a written dissent stating that the board lacked authority to assess or regulate the tract.”
Rebecca accepted the minutes.
Karen stared straight ahead.
I continued.
“This is footage from the morning of demolition.”
The gym screen displayed Karen in her pink suit.
Her voice filled the room.
“You refused to pay, so we are recovering.”
Then:
“We own this watershed, sir.”
Then Nate asking about permits.
Karen dismissing the concern.
Then the excavator striking the structure.
Nobody laughed now.
I stopped the video.
Opened my folder.
“This is the $48,000 demolition-recovery invoice sent to me after the work.”
“Combined with assessments, the HOA demanded $59,400.”
Then I lifted the cardboard tube.
“I would also like to enter the original permit set.”
I opened it.
The sheets were large.
Heavy.
My old engineering title block remained in the lower corner.
I unfolded the final page.
There was my signature.
Blue ink.
April 2017.
I looked toward the panel.
“I designed the structure.”
Karen’s face changed.
I continued.
“I was senior engineer with the county water resources office when the project was reviewed.”
“I could not approve my own permit.”
“Independent staff and state reviewers handled approval.”
“But my name is engineer of record.”
Daniel Reyes leaned toward his microphone.
“Mr. Hayes.”