They say that what's good for the goose is good for the gander. I wonder how this applies when it comes to sign ordinances in Nolensville. Did you know that if you hold a yard sale you are required by law to get a permit from Town Hall, and that if you put up signs ANYWHERE, including your own yard, you have to have signed permission forms from the property owners where you plan to place your signs submitted and approved by the government of Nolensville?

With this level of insane infringement upon our rights, I wonder why builders are allowed to litter the roads with their signs every weekend, and why codes inspectors who don’t even live in this community turn a blind eye to those eyesores.

I wonder how the people from yard-care companies are allowed to  drive around sticking their signs into the yards of those from whom they don’t even have a contract. How does this insanity address high-school graduation signs, security alarm company signs in yards to warn off burglars and political campaign signs? We know politicians aren't going through all that effort to obtain written permission and register those permission slips with Town Hall. Are they?

What about home remodeling company signs that aret put out whenever a home gets re-roofed or remodeled, or how about those “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!” signs for new parents? New mom and dad, you have to register those with Town Hall, and they can't be pink or blue... only black and white!

Take note that these questions and examples do not constitute a complete list, and that none of those we currently see around town are displayed in strictly black and white as required by ordinances.

Speaking of sign ordinances, why aren’t banners that are put up also forced to be only black and white? After all, if the Town is going to enforce this ridiculous ordinance, then it needs to be enforced across the board, not selectively. Do you see the craziness of these laws?

What about those of us who put signs out in our own yards? Do we have to sign a permission slip for the sign Nazis for our own yards? Yes. That's what our wonderful town government has done to us. Next thing you know there will be an ordinance requiring us to get a permission slip (taxed, of course) from Town Hall in order to use the bathroom (in our own homes, no less).

I think this whole sign-control issue has gone way off the deep end. A couple of years ago their big push was to control how many US flags you can put in your own yard. Now it is all about signs. I fear some have forgotten that people live in this community. What are we striving for: a great community in which to live, or the home of the Stepford wives?

If you've had enough of this control-crazy Nolensville government, speak out! Call your aldermen and the mayor. Tell them, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" Then show up at the polls this November and vote those who "don't get it" out of office. We won't tell you who to vote for, or who not to vote for, but if you read our editorials and the still legal free speech rights exercised here by a few brave souls, you'll get the idea.

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written by Lynda , July 15, 2010

There are a few others. The first that comes to mind is long time resident, Corp of Engineer retiree Doug Radley on the planning board, who is always calm and doesn't say much, but when he does-its a doozy.
He's one of the few that hasn't let a little "power" go to his head.
He said if there was a way to stop building in the floodplain he would, and they spend too much time discussing what is offensive and its not worth it.

Another is new planning board member Chase Smith who is an attorney. He echos town attorney Bob Notestine's comments warning the rest of them that they are getting into constitutional issues and infringing on 1st. ammendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

There are only 2 in all of town government that weren't hand picked by the mayor, Vice Mayor Dugger and Alderman Larry Felts. Before she was "Mayor Lothers" she was campaign manager for Alderman Alexander who wouldn't have stood a chance without her. The fact that he was a Metro planner 42 years comes in handy. He does know his stuff, but too many people are hell bent on turning Nolensville into Brentwood, which is precisely what we incorporated to prevent.

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written by gardiner , July 13, 2010

I find it very ironic that in the July 9, 2010 edition of the Nolensville Dispatch two articles appeared on the very same page with the following headlines:
"Bully Prevention Workshop" right above "Yes, You Need a Permit for Yard Sales!"

I'm beginning to think that our mayor and her parrots on the Planning Commission went to the same school of political science: BIG government, make the general population dependent upon government. People, we need to ALL wake up, take part, and stop this micromanaging insanity. Throw the bums out... just leave us Larry and Tommy because they DO listen, and are probably the only ones in Nolensville government who "get it."

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written by Lynda , June 15, 2010

Well, now it seems Codes IS working on the weekends and the very nice new police/codes/disaster relief officer Troy Buckley, is doing his job confiscating many signs that don't have permits.

I doubt anyone except the builders are fussing about those signs being confiscated, but garage sale holders are in for a rude awakening.

If he has time, Troy goes to each garage sale with a permit, educates the surprised homeowners (who probably educate many people later)and hands them a permit to sign with instructions to obey next time.

Despite all that has been written in the Dispatch (which I am finding so few people say they read) little has been written about anything the public could construe as negative. Even the negative topics are politically spun so that what is written is confusing and not the whole truth. People say that's why they don't read it anymore. Go figure. But at least the town government can CLAIM they published it in the paper.

I told Troy people aren't being deliberately disobedient; they don't KNOW such rules exist and can't believe it when they find out. He said he would write a "Codes Corner" column. Don Swartz wrote one on the front page of the Dispatch one time that I can't even remember except how it angered people. Before that Jim Finley wrote a Codes Corner column for a while, but back then there was nothing that angered people as there is so much now.

Why is it that people in this community are SO open, outspoken and honest among each other, but will NOT talk to the ones making the rules, or write a letter to the editor of the Dispatch unless something happens to get them really, really angry? Is it because the ones who have tried report back that talking to some of the town government is like talking to a wall?

I know this website is making a difference because I sit in those long, sometimes boring, town government meetings and hear the comments by the audience and officials. I see the changes that are made because Gardiner and I and sometimes a few others, tell it like it really is; the way the people on the streets talk to each other about the subjects WE think are important, including Nolensville government infringing on our rights more and more while pretending to do it for the good of the town and so more businesses will locate here.

I loved the citizen comment Charles Lawson made at the last planning meeting. He said what they were doing was "the same as Adolph Hitler---taking away our freedoms, one at a time". While others live and talk privately, Charles has served on different town boards since the beginning--until lately. Perhaps not having to be politically correct anymore to keep his appointed position, gives him the freedom to speak up for all those who won't. He asked them to not pass the rule about businesses not being allowed to park cars on grass.

As one who often speaks on the record in those meetings, I'll tell you, the nervousness one feels to go to the microphone, goes away as soon as people start thanking you for having the guts to go on that public record.

If I was a betting person I would bet Charles' statement will be politically spun to be unrecognizable when the minutes come out after they are approved next month and no reference to Hitler will be mentioned.

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written by Lynda , June 07, 2010

I can easily see why there is so much confusion, but its only business owner's signs that had to be only black and white. Seeing how much trouble that caused, the boards recently spent months of meetings discussing their personal likes and dislikes and what colors and how much they would allow businesses to have.

Anyone can put up signs after Noon on Friday till Monday morning without fear of "getting caught." To avoid the Nolensville government rules, more people put just signs in the county. It is true, to put a sign in your own yard, the town government's permission is needed. Its unenforceable, but having a few confiscated makes compliance easier for even planners.

Also it was only businesses flags they could control. Because of the Fieldstone Farms (Franklin) homeowner who went to court to defend his right to have a flagpole in his year, then President Geo. Bush stated no one had a right to deny homeowners rights to fly flags. Too bad he didn't defend business owners too.

Town government rules are temporary signs can only be up 14 days and be down in 2 days after an event. Naturally politicians have longer and don't have to have written permission. Has anyone noticed the fourth of July banner has been up over a week and its still 3 more weeks till the event? It hasn't hurt my eyes or trashed up the town in my opinion, but apparently what is good for the geese depends on who the geese are.

No wonder businesses have nothing good to say about Nolensville, but to hear the government tell it, the reason businesses avoid Nolensville is because businesses sometimes park cars on grass. Never fear, the government is going to stop that too. There are so many ways to get around that. I can't wait to see the backlash.

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