News

Man descends from tower after week-long protest

By Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor
Email this story | Print this story

After exactly a week, 61-year-old Wayne Spires of Wallsboro descended from the tower where he had stayed in protest of a court ruling. He left his perch about two-thirds of the distance up a 68-foot CB radio tower Monday at 1 p.m.,

Spires, who endured two bouts of thunderstorms during that time, said camping on the tower was a way to protest a judge’s decision which places a lien against his property and that of four others in his neighborhood.

The judgment was made that Spires and the other defendants are obligated to pay a $1,500 per lot assessment for road improvements and maintenance n plus court costs.

Spires said he is hopeful that the attention drawn to the situation by his protest will lead to the judge reconsidering the case.

“People paid when they didn’t want to because they were afraid of losing their homes,” Spires said.

Charles W. Parrott, president of the homeowners association said Spires was offered a chance to pay the assessment over a 12-month period.

“We were not offered a 12-month payment plan. Around the beginning of the year a letter was placed in our mailbox stating that we had until April 1, 2006 to pay $1,500.” said Spires. “When it was not paid a lien of $3,230.50 was placed against us and everyone else who had not paid.”

Cindy Abernathy, another resident of the River Falls subdivision where the drama has unfolded, said the judgment was not fair.

“It broke my heart to see him up there. These are people’s lives you’re talking about,” she said. “I would hate to know that I’d worked and saved to have something and it could be taken away from me just like that.”

Abernathy contends that there were no restrictions when she moved to the area.

“Those bylaws weren’t in effect when most of the people moved here, but if they’re going to go by them there are some other rules,” she said. “One rule is that you can’t have farm animals, and there are people out here with horses. I wouldn’t want to live next door to them and have a bunch of horseflies around.

“Also, there aren’t supposed to be any trailers without underpinnings, but there are. The rules should apply equally to everybody,” continued Abernathy. “I believe some people are wanting to run others off so they can build expensive houses or condominiums here. If that’s the case they should just buy out those property owners. A person shouldn’t be making money by hurting someone else.”

Dr. Mark Hayden, who owns nearly 40 of the subdivision’s 54 lots, is active in the homeowners association and in bringing the suits for nonpayment.

“Everybody’s warranty deed shows that they agreed to the homeowners association,” he said. “We just want this to be a good neighborhood with a good road where people would want to come and raise their kids.”

The original ruling was made Dec. 11, and the involved parties will be in court again Feb. 5.

The pending case will address whether Spires is breaking another covenant by having more than one mobile home on his lot.

“The plat says there aren’t any restrictions on it,” said Spires.

Hayden disagrees.

“The covenants of the homeowners association say there can only be one trailer on a lot,” said Hayden. “He has three on there right now.”

---