Question

You discover that Mrs. Murphy has ordered five truckloads of fill to raise her backyard in the floodway. She never asked for a permit. What is the recommended first step to dealing with this situation?

1) Contact Mrs. Murphy and inform her about the permit requirement.
2) Report the situation to the local authorities.
3) Ignore the situation as it is not your responsibility.
4) Wait for someone else to address the issue.

Answer 1

The first step is to contact Mrs. Murphy about the permit requirement before potentially escalating to local authorities, promoting compliance and community safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The recommended first step in addressing the situation where Mrs. Murphy has ordered fill to raise her backyard in the floodway without a permit is to contact Mrs. Murphy and inform her about the permit requirement. This approach promotes communication and provides an opportunity for compliance before escalating the matter to local authorities, which might be necessary if the situation does not get resolved. It is important in community governance to be proactive and responsible, ensuring that individuals are aware of and adhere to local zoning laws, particularly in flood-prone areas where unauthorized modifications can have broader implications for community safety and environmental impacts.