City O'Fences

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City O'Fences

Topic Author: Stephanie Ramos

Posted: 10:47 AM Jul 19, 2008

Replies Posted: 12 comments

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City O'Fences

I enjoy every story I report for 13 News, but every once in awhile..one stands out like this one. The fence versus the city.

The fence versus the City dispute all started back in April of this year. 72 year old, Jacky Bess was and is still being told by the city that her fence is too tall and needs to be lowered from 6 feet to 4 feet tall in the front portion of her home. She has no problem lowering it to 5 feet but doesn't want to go any lower afraid her dogs may get out.

Jacky had her first court appearance Friday. She has 60 days to find an attorney in order to keep her fence at its six foot height.

Once she goes to court again...if she is found in violation she could face jail time. Her prosecution requested she instead be put on probation and pay fines as opposed to jail time.

What do you think? Is she being singled out? or is the city just following their city codes.

Posted by: Dustin Location: Emporia
I think she should tell the court that she will lower the fence if the court is willing to take full responsibility of her dogs jumping over it. She has a perfectly valid reason for wanting the fence 6' tall. She is responsible. If the court makes her lower it, they are totally irresponsible! Please keep us updated on the city's harrassment of this smart and responsible individual.

Posted by: sharon Location: topeka
Stephanie, I can think of so many other things the city should be doing. Leave the woman alone she has done nothing wrong. My question is, What if she lowers it and the dogs get out and attack some city worker will she get into trouble for her fence being too short?? We need new commissioners in this town.

Posted by: Blue I'm glad people are noticing how the city picks on people. The city have sent letters to my house a few times One letter said my 2 cars in my driveway are abandon becaused they set in my driveway more than 15 days and if I did not move them they will be towed. That's one of the dumbest letters I ever got. I hope the lady gets to keep her fence.

Posted by: martha Location: Topeka
I think the city has more important things to deal with than a woman's fence. There are houses that have trash around them and no one makes them clean them up. You have to go down and sign your name before the city will address the issue of cleaning up their property. That is riciculous also. We should be able to call and report these messes. Jacky Bess should be left to her own business. She isn't hurting anyone.

Posted by: Neighbor Location: Topeka
There are many other fences in this city that are 6 ft and no one is saying anything to them. look at the Phelps fence and you can't see through it, when are they going to be required to lower it, or are they giving too much money to the city to turn the other way, we need an all new city government and I hope the people of Topeka stand up and take back their city and get the people in office that will do what they are there to do and not single people out because of where they live...this city is going down hill fast with the people that are in office now lets take back this city and get rid of the useless people that pick and choose what rules to enforce...the city can't uphold their duties, what is their fine, maybe jail time???

Posted by: Lois Location: Topeka
If it was a privacy fence, maybe I could see it,since it is in front of her house, but the rules are that dogs are not to be chained out for a period of time and from what I can see on the video, they appear to be rather large dogs, generally not house dogs. With the school so close, just what the darling 'city fathers' expect her to do to protect those kids?! Our 'city fathers' sure don't put important things first, they'd rather harress people over things that are non-essential to the community! What a waste of our tax money.

Posted by: 777's Location: Topeka
The city has been stepping on people toes for a long time now. This city has some of the silliest codes I have ever heard of. Its her property she should be able to do what she wants with it.

Posted by: Judy Location: Topeka
If she lowers the fence and the dogs get out and hurt someone, then what? If she needs to keep the dogs contained, like the city requires, then LEAVE the fence. If I lived next door or near by I would want the fence as hight as possible.

Posted by: rb this fence is perfectly adaquite for this situation .the city should look at individual circumstances ' spirit of the law so to speak.those dogs would be worse off if chained or kennel fenced.

Posted by: Bob Location: Manhattan
I can think of better things the City can do than to waste their time and money fighting with an old lady over the height of her fence. And if they do make her lower it to four feet, I hope her dogs don't get out and attack the kids walking by.

Posted by: Iris Location: Topeka
she is being singled out because the city doesn't want to address important issues like the firefighters dispute,taking care of unkepmt yards and the budget. The city needs to take care of important things and not harrass this lady. Between this and garage sale signs,sounds to me like we need a brand new city council.

Posted by: Suzy I think the city has more important things to do with their time and money than go after a home owner because her fence is too high. Who ever heard of that anyway? Would she be facing the same consequences if it were a wooden privacy fence instead of chain link? I think it's ridiculous!