The following is a response to the article When the Agricultural and Residential Worlds go to War. The first part of the article mainly focused on the residential plight, without providing the perspective of the Ag folks. The Mirror is disappointed in its reporting and wants to be sure that Mr. Tankard got equal time to give his part of the story.
In part 2, David Tankard, owner of David’s Nursery responds with the following comment:
I am disappointed that the Cape Charles Mirror did not request input from the other side of this issue.
Notes:
1. The right of way is legal. I had my lawyer, John Custis, double-check it for me. Mr. Monroe has conceded in early conversations that he knew about the right of way but didn’t realize it would be used by tractors and other heavy equipment. The right of way has existed since 1987 and none of the previous owners of Mr. Monroe’s property have had any issue with it.
2. The right of way is a safety issue. We don’t like our tractors on the fairly busy Occohanock Neck Rd any longer than necessary.
3. The farm that I own that borders Mr. Monroe’s property is part of an AFD (Agricultural Forestry District). We are able to operate heavy equipment, irrigation pumps, etc at all hours on that farm.
4. Despite that almost all of the heavy equipment that uses the right of way is between the hours of 7:30 am and 5 pm. On rare occasions, we do need to use the right of way during other hours, but it is almost always during daylight.
5. If tractors and other heavy equipment did go on Occohanock Neck Rd, instead of the right of way, they would be about the same distance from Mr. Monroe’s house. There would be virtually no difference in the amount of noise.
6. When this started I did try to talk to Mr. Monroe. I was screamed and cursed at when I refused to give in on the use of the right of way. Mr. Monroe has since yelled at several of my employees. He has also screamed and cursed at me again when I was just riding by on my bike on the paved public road. Once he did even come on our property to yell at my employees. Despite all of this, David’s Nursery has told its employees to do their best to ignore Mr. Monroe. Whenever he is blocking the right of way by standing in the middle of the road, my tractors do take a long way around.
In an email, David provided additional commentary:
If the right of way wasn’t there then our tractors and other heavy equipment would ride by more houses in addition to Mr. Monroe’s house. From my viewpoint, the fact that he got the Cape Charles Mirror to publish an article concerning this matter is just the latest evidence of how Mr. Monroe is trying to intimidate David’s Nursery. He is doing everything possible to make life miserable for me and David’s Nursery in order to pressure us to stop using the legal right of way. David’s Nursery has instructed its employees to do everything possible to get along with Mr. Monroe and not to antagonize him in any way.
He has yelled at David’s Nursery employees using the right of way. Once he even came on our property to yell at employees.
He has screamed at me twice. The first time we met and I refused to give in on the right of way, he got right up nose to nose and screamed and cursed at me. The second time I parked my truck at the end of Mount Hope Lane (about 25 yards from his property) and went on a bike ride on the paved public road. He must have seen me departing because he was waiting for me when I came back and screamed at me again.
Recently a local farmer used the right of way to cut our soybeans since we don’t have our own combine. He followed that person to his shop and yelled at him. A combine on our field is something that only happens once or twice a year.
He has stood in the middle of the right of way to block traffic on a couple of occasions.
My primary points are as stated in previous comments.
The right of way is legal.
The right of way is needed for a safety issue. Both for my employees and for motorists on Occohanock Neck Rd.
Mr. Monroe’s house is right next to an AFD. He should not be surprised that agriculture is happening near him.
I really want people to like me personally and David’s Nursery. I want my neighbors to be my friends. I have had a lot of sleepless nights worrying about Mr. Monroe and it really upsets me to know how angry he is with me and David’s Nursery.
This probably was already considered but possibly Mr Monroe could sell this property to David’s nursery ending this dispute . Mr Monroe obviously is not going to be happy continuing to live there. If not to David’s then the county so as to create a permanent solution while using the structures for other county needs like a maintenance operation .
David’s Nursery would be interested in buying the property from Mr. Monroe at the same price as he originally paid for it as a way to settle this. The last thing we want is a neighbor who doesn’t like us.
You know your lying again. That’s sad and ask your buddy you told to use my land if he was on video and who was the one yelling. Now let’s get the story correct before someone looks like a fool.no one is saying slander about you or your family. So take a deep breath before you lie about me or my family. This is a sad deal I am happy my community see everything.
Good Lord I can’t believe I am reading this garbage! As a former resident of the area, I was happy to have David’s nursery as a neighbor. Why not move to Accomack County next to a chicken farm and see how you like that.
I agree I don’t like to get muddy!!! Smh I heard he was a great person myself but it’s hard to believe that on my end when you have been attacked by them and there crew. I moved here I am not a renter I choose to purchase a property in a good area with what we thought were friendly and like minded people. We are a respectful military family the flag hangs high and proud at our homes. Sad that he is feeding in to a hype man a fake friend!!
How many years did you serve in the millitary of The United States of America?
military(mispelled)
my family is retired from the service you can meet my father any time at the Suffolk veterans memorial wall bring flowers..MY wife same for her family her father is alive & retired from little creek ,me I worked on base at sp89 NAS born on base went to school on base many generations of both mine and my wife have served. from living on base and going to a navel doctors for many moons smh we have been though it …we also know the feeling of was the last time we would see them as the boat left doc. if thats what you need to know then there you go. We know the feeling of packing care packages recording videos for everyone for the boats and soldiers sending boxes and letters and currently pay the vfw a visit’s with my father in-law.. if you live with a vet or are a vet you know what they go though and we are here for our family and extended military families as we have always been..
I never served in the military.
If they would stop selling our home land to Come-Heres, this would not be a problem.
Dig deep, Stuey and buy it YOURSELF if you so despise the open market.
It seems I am right on target.
Sorry Stuey but I sold my place in Cape Chuck because people like you made it untenable.
But hey, it’s not like I was spending money locally, hiring locals or adding to the tax base or nuthin’, so why NOT make life miserable for us?
When a property hits the OPEN MARKET, Stu-baby then YOU can buy it or…..someone else will.
I am not a come here as you put it. Your being disrespectful to a military family. Been here so long I remember the gator at Stuckey’s so now what do you have to say. Check your information before you slander someone about being a come here as you put it
Your correct they had a employee file fake charges on my and have called the police a number of times for false information. They took me to court for shooting at a employee that did not happen he continues to slander me and my family they have not paid us for the lawyer charges or any apology for trying to throw me in jail. I have hours of video documentation of them. The yellow circle is on there own land not mine. I am not a come here as it’s been put
The tankards have tried to throw me in jail with fake charges I will show anyone the documentation they also have ran a primary power line though my land with out . As a com here what a joke we are a veteran raised family local family. This is residential property the Tankards have a deeded access less then 900ft down the image provided is not correct
Publius Americanus says
DECEMBER 13, 2021 AT 4:44 PM
Sorry Stuey but I sold my place in Cape Chuck because people like you made it untenable.
But hey, it’s not like I was spending money locally, hiring locals or adding to the tax base or nuthin’, so why NOT make life miserable for us?
When a property hits the OPEN MARKET, Stu-baby then YOU can buy it or…..someone else will.
……Way too much info, for I personally, don’t care if you evaporated in to thin air, last week…..
Thank you kind sir you understand.
Your family must find you so pleasant to be around. If they bother to come around.
Never fear, Stuey. With guys like you yapping and voting, I can come back in 10 years and pick up places for a song.
Again.
As I told you, I personally don’t care if you evaporated in to thin air, last week.
Who else are you gonna blame your problems on, child?
“Wahhh, its the come here’s” “Wahhh, It’s the expensive bridge”..
Poooooof! into thin air…
Make sure you close your eyes and stomp your feet, Stuey. It’s what children do.
Merry Christmas to all!!!
The Cape Charles Mirror is so fun!