I am not one to use this BLOG as a virtual podium to voice my dissatisfaction or frustration in personal matters. But this matter isn't personal, it is for the betterment (an actual word?) of anyone that wants to buy a bank asset in the wonderfully efficient and pleasant-to-deal-with City of Burton (do you detect the sarcasm). It looks like I have a fight with City hall on my hands. You are probably thinking I have some huge rezoning issue, or some other complex problem regarding the sale of a multi-million development. Nope, I have a young, single man buying his first house that was rudely turned away from those previously mentioned pillars of professionalism (sarcasm again) at the City of Burton. Why you ask? Because he wanted to have the water turned on for 24 hours for the sole purpose of a pre-sale home inspection. He was even willing to pre-pay for any usage that might have been accumulated in that time. Here is where it gets good...the City of Burton in its' infinite wisdom has a NO-EXCEPTION-UNDER-ANY-CIRCUMSTANCE policy in place that requires all water liens to be paid, in full, before they will turn on service. Ok, sounds reasonable right?..Wrong, especially in the case of a bank asset where the bank is liable for the liens of the past owner. The bank is fully prepared to pay the $500 and change owed, but not until closing. There will be no closing without the inspection being completed and the contingency released. We can not complete the inspection without the water being turned on. According to "Anita" at the City of Burton Water & Sewer department, this young, first-time, 20-something home buyer must pay the $500.00 plus an activation fee and then seek reimbursement from the seller, in this case the bank. Ok, so what’s the big deal, you ask...would you, as a potential home buyer, EVER consider paying the bill of someone you didn't know...what if the inspection reveals un-foreseen issues and you decide to not precede...now what? My point is simple..it shouldn't be this hard to sell a property, anywhere. Here we are, trying to put an owner occupant into a now abandoned property and the municipality that stands to benefit from the tax revenue and improvement to the area is the one obstacle standing in the way. The best part is when I asked "Anita", (I used quotes because she refused to give me her last name) how we might resolve this issue she rudely, coldly and almost amusingly stated that I was "out of luck". After my repeated requests for her last name, she said she didn't have to provide it and then...get this...hung up on me. Nowhere but a government position could someone treat a customer in such a way and not have repercussions. If anyone knows "Anita", let her know your disapproval. If anyone knows how to help rectify this obvious oversight down at the City of Burton, please post a reply. For the record, I emailed this scenario to Mayor Smiley. Lets just see if I even get a reply.
Ok...thanks for letting me vent...