Lynn Swearingen (c) copyright 2010 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

County Sues Farmer, Cites Too Many Crops

Yes – the headline is correct – since 2008 Mr. Miller has been – well – too productive for the local Government.

DeKalb County is suing a local farmer for growing too many vegetables, but he said he will fight the charges in the ongoing battle neighbors call “Cabbagegate.”Fig trees, broccoli and cabbages are among the many greens that line the soil on Steve Miller’s more than two acres in Clarkston, who said he has spent fifteen years growing crops to give away and sell at local farmers markets.

So Mr. Miller bows before the Government and gets “permission” through re-zoning to use his own land in the way he has for the past 15 years . Think the story is over? Of course not – the Government is not giving up their $5,000:

Two weeks after approval, however, his attorney said the county began prosecuting the old charges, saying he was technically in violation before the rezoning.“It should go away. I think it borders on harassment,” said Miller’s attorney Doug Dillard. Miller faces nearly $5,000 in fines, but he said he plans to fight those citations in recorders court later this month.

The nerve of DeKalb County – which touts itself as “The Greenest County in America” – is sickening. If one were to agree, why not contact the Director of DeKalb County Planning and Development  @  404-371-2155? Or maybe contact  State Senator Steve Henson, a resident of DeKalb County for over 30 years, and ask : “When did DeKalb County decide to harass small farmers?”

Or here is a different spin on things – vote them out. Vote out the idiots who would tout their “Greenness” while squeezing their constituents for a few greenbacks.