Alas Poor Elmore County bastion for.....

Elmore County, poor Elmore County where our small ranch is at, went from a place where literally you could turn in a house plan drawn on the inside of a Miller Genuine Draft cold pack to actual planing and zone and real building inspectors. It went seemingly over night from a place indeed you could turn in a card board box turned inside out with a hand drawn floor plan and be granted a building permit. Now they have to be submitted --- Plans (drawings) shall be drawn to a professional standard, to scale, upon substantial paper, and be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed. Elmore county a place where building inspectors at the time seemed to be in love with or at least happy with the idea of when in doubt build it stout. Now a place of being codified and national building codes. What next shall happen we all ask ourselves.

However because there were several building failures. Apparently it came to light that what some peoples idea of building something stout sort of deviated greatly from one builder and homeowner to another. So this idea of doing it my way has gone 180 degrees to that of normal building practices complete with engineering data. Particularly in areas that required one hundred and twenty five pound snow loads and winds howl unmerciful in the winter time.

So Elmore County alas poor Elmore County long the bastion for those who wish to do it their way now has become codified. And for a period of time they were a revolving door for new building inspectors and managers. Now a new crew has signed on vowing to make buildings and zoning safe and sane. Or safer and saner for those who build or buy in that county.

So true to everything Ellen and I seem to do being a dollar short and a day late in all things have fallen pray to modern day building practices. Though we have not yet turned in plans officially for our retirement home. I too was tempted to draw some up in crayon and magic maker free hand on the inside the lid of a Justin boot box and submit that wishing to be a traditionalist and not wishing to make waves with the local people going against the grain.

I however felt with my problem with alcohol and being clean and sober since 1990. I thought that might be a little tacky going the direction of a Budweiser box turned inside out. I guess even ex alcoholics have some form of drawing a line in the sand. Though as of yet no one in planing and zoning really knows me or my families very storied history in Elmore County or for that matter Mountain Home the capital seat of Elmore County. Well okay I guess that is the county seat of Elmore County.

So it would have made little difference if I would have chosen a Bud box or the more traditional Miller Genuine Draft box or for that matter the lack luster Justin Boot box lid. I too would just have been seen as another in a long line of those who seen Elmore County as one of the last bastions of those who wish to just do it their way....... Sad but times change in all things. All the changes I seen in the railroads in thirty some years. Now the place we choose to live out our retirement. Sad....