HomeMy WebLinkAboutA008 - Letter from Mike Carlson dated June 8, 2011 e
June 8th, 2011
Dear Zoning Board of Adjustment:
My name is Mike Carlson and along with my friend(Dr. Sela Sar) live at 408 Hartford Drive within 200
feet of Mr. Folkerts' home and business (ERI, Inc.) located at 327 Hartford Drive. Let me begin by
saying a job in today's economy is more precious than ever. I credit Mr. Folkers for creating a source of
income for himself in these very difficult times. On the contrary, Mr. Janus, who according to the Des
Moines Register's website on state employee salaries,makes $76,000.00 a year on the taxpayer's dime. It
seems Mr. Janus would much rather see Mr. Folkerts business shut down than to have his precious grass
trampled on. If this seems ridiculous to you it should...because it is!!!
I believe Mr. Janus over-stated to the Department of Planning and Housing Inspector the impact Mr.
Folkerts' business has on the neighborhood. My housemate and I don't have a problem with it, neither
does my neighbor across the street(Melissa), or the Jeff Brown Family next door. To my knowledge,Mr.
Janus greatly exaggerated the traffic volume and noise created by this business.
For example, I know when the mail woman has been here because I can hear the bad muffler on her truck
when it goes by...a daily constant for over a year now. And of course I can always hear the trash being
picked up. And, even Mr. Janus' lawnmower. But deliveries to Mr. Folkerts' business include only the
squeal of a few tired brakes, the occasional rumbling of a truck, and the even more infrequent sound of
pallets being off-loaded. Hell, the train whistles and rumblings make far more noise than any of the
above...so why aren't we asking Union Pacific Railroad to move or shutdown?
Even more disturbing is that I believe Mr. Janus lied to the Inspector from the Department of Planning
and Housing in regard to the impact on his precious grass. I am also including with this testament
photographs of the boulevard Mr. Janus is so concerned about. As the photographs attest there is
absolutely no damage to his yard. Furthermore, I walk by Mr. Janus' property everyday as the block's
mailbox sits on the far south end of his property. I have not noticed any damage to the grass in front of
his home at anytime whatsoever. See the photos for yourself. Sure it's possible a truck's wheels went
onto his yard maybe once by a careless courier, but that infraction does not reflect the manner in which
Mr. Folkerts has successfully made his business a neighborhood friendly business.
If Mr. Janus' complaints are the only rationale for denying Mr. Folkerts his struggling yet valiant efforts
as a small business entrepreneur, than I suppose anyone in their right mind would not choose to do
business in Iowa. After all,why not let somebody else worry about who's gonna pay the lavish salary of a
government worker who has no appreciation whatsoever for the small business owner who daily struggles
to meet the somewhat oppressive obligation of taxes while still trying to make a profit?
Do you really think Mr. Folkerts makes $76,000.00 a year? For whatever its worth...I think Mr Janus
could well afford buying a pound of Kentucky Blue Grass Seed at Thiesen's for two dollars a pound...if he
really needed it.
Please pardon my strong language but this senseless matter really peeves me.
Respectfully,
Mike Carlson
408 Hartford Drive
515-292-3613
� �\ ��\
:�\// \� (
:� - � -
- :� d(
wr . . � .« .
2+ � - + �
. . . . . -» ~°»m � �?�\d
� � � y � . :��S» �
. y > . . a. .
,§ .
. . , � � : �\�.< # m\
� \\ \ » .
r �:
�y .� . , ,
a .�\ , , «
<z �\ � » .��
»\ � � � ~� {\\ \
}
-
, 41i
m
z
k4
T
It
� 3j ;
it
',���»>.
,i.
r
r.���.
i�,
f�
6
�4
,,
`�>��
�.
��,
� #
� I
M� �;� � �,
� � � ;� ,
A
��
��� � � �'
„�e >...,
._,,,
�� � ��' � r
w
�. �.
,�'' S ��.
�. �� �
���
x.f�� � f �, ���� � �
L � ���,
����� � � X
�` �� � .•
a
f^ r a
�� � �
� �:
T ��'�" �;
�� €�'`��a` � :�,�
'��,= � T+ ' .�
�€,�, �-�
��„�_
rII
*st
5f
,f
i1
f j I
ed
az !
ba
S �"v
s
f,.
��
w �{
.;
s
��
:.�'.:._
.ice_. ,...
.ti � ..
�.� ,.
�. � � a
\Y�- � �;� - .tee
.. ,. ...
_.e 4.
t.
..
�y
`,-it
,.
r� - � � � "y
.. . -Y���
... ... --
s
.G
aT
�l
.y .. - �. - � � _
:.. �. �- _
` _ �
.... '.
�. _ e
_. _ .
.,
s _ _ . . __
_ ;*
.�. -
F�
1 "(
N
_
Vi
r ;
3 • {
F
�.
�,,
{� '�,.
�,x
:.c �. e,
.s :_ ,a
-�,
, `
" _
F:.« ..� .'
���.
Ij
� .. s
f ~ t
a`
l
_... �- ..
�'. � -_
��. ..
f.
�'.� .. -
�.' � _
�h.° .�..
7° -'
��.....
..
Mp'1 _
t. �.