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Making
Irmo's Neighborhoods Great Again Mr. Pat Donlon has the benefit of living in a “nice neighborhood” that is kept
clean and “nice” due to the HOA rules, regulations, and enforcement. He also moved into his neighborhood accepting
those regulations. But not all of our neighborhoods are well kept like they used to be, and yes, long-time residents have
had enough. Some have already moved out, some are trying to sell but the home will not bring price-wise due to the blight,
foreclosures, and other unkept homes in the area. So yes, Council is responding to this issue, finally. We are going
over our ordinances and rewriting to make them enforceable and clear for residents to understand, and therefore, adhere to.
Yes, Mr. Donlon and a few, believe we are overstepping, but we are not. We are very cautious and considerate of property
rights. All rights require every individual to also act responsibly and be considerate of others that could be affected by
their actions (i.e. loud music, speeding, front yard nudity), you get the picture. Clarence Thomas spoke at Hillsdale College's
164th Commencement
Ceremony and said, “In a broader context, we are obligated in our neighborhood to be good neighbors so that the neighborhood
would thrive. Whether there was to be a clean, thriving neighborhood was directly connected to our efforts. So there was
always, to our way of thinking, a connection between the things we valued most and our personal obligations or efforts. There
could be no freedom without each of us discharging our responsibilities. When we heard the words duty, honor, and country,
no more needed to be said. But that is a bygone era. Today, we rarely hear of our personal responsibilities in discussions
of broad notions such as freedom or liberty. It is as though freedom and liberty exist wholly independent of anything we
do, as if they are predestined.” They are not. Freedoms, nor rights, come without responsibility, and when citizens harp
“their rights” and forget “their responsibility”, your elected officials have a responsibility to
act. We are, we will, continue to work to make every neighborhood in Irmo the sought after place it used to be.
If
we are a bedroom-community, then we need to keep our bedrooms, our homes if you will, the best-looking in this area. If you
are a neighbor, you need to do your part. Keep your home looking great, and help your neighbor do so as well. Clarence Thomas Quote was taken from IMPRIMIS, a publication of HIllsdale College, May/June 2016 issue. I also
would like to add two other of their issues, one December 2015, Property Rights and Religious Liberty by Larrry P. Arnn, President
of Hillsdale College, and December 2016, A More American Conservatism, also by Mr. Arnn. Both are very much worth reading
in dealing with property rights, freedom, and issues related to both of these topics.
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