A Hick Walks Into a Lawyer's Office

Hick spent a half hour talking to our lawyer on Tuesday morning, explaining the Double Hovel flip house property, and how he had asked the city for a variance to split it into two separate lots. The first thing Lawyer asked Hick was:

"Are you sure I'M the one you want to do this? Mayor does not like me. In the past, I've been involved in a property case with a relative of Mayor's, on the opposing side. Mayor has asked me twice to represent him in other matters, and I declined. I don't want it to go against your best interests, just because I'M the lawyer you chose."

"Yes. I've done business with you all these years, and I don't think this will be a problem. I told Mayor I was going to talk to you, and he said he would be interested in what you had to say."

Hick gave Lawyer the meager paperwork that we have. A copy of the blank form to request a variance. He did not have a copy of the one we filled out to accompany the $125 fee he paid at city hall. Hick had a copy of the letter he handed out. The five pages of city codes given to him by the gal at city hall, explaining how to request a variance. Also a sticky note written by the city hall gal with the date and time of Hick's meeting. 

Lawyer said he would start with a phone call to the city attorney to see what the process might be. Then he would call Mayor. He wanted the filled-out request form. So Hick called Mayor, who said he'd have the office get it ready for Hick to pick up later in the day.

Hick is cautiously optimistic that he might get a new meeting. When he got the completed form to drop off at Lawyer's office, there was NOTHING written at the bottom in the section for Action Taken by Board of Adjustment.

Hick thinks Lawyer might ask for the minutes of the original meeting. If the gal recording put everything in, it would show that Hick had asked about the "mystery" letter in the packet, and offered to show his letter he gave to the surrounding property owners, but was turned down for both the request and the offer.

Still, Hick shouldn't have left the meeting without something in writing, or assurance that it would be mailed to him. All he has was the unanimous vote of the board members present to deny the variance request, with reasoning that if they did it for him, they'd have to do it for everybody. Even though the five pages of papers handed out said each case would be considered on an individual basis.

Lawyer also asked why Realtor said she can't sell the houses together. Hick said Lawyer should talk to Realtor specifically, because it has to do with low- or no-down-payment loan regulations. People can't get them for a property that has potential to make money for them, such as renting the second house. Realtor said people WANT to buy the Beauty Shop, but can't afford a down payment. Splitting the houses would allow potential buyers to get these loans.

We'll see what develops...