JASPER, Tenn. - City leaders have decided that no further action is required after hearing both sides of a neighborhood dispute.
Cheryl Schwarz attended board meetings in October and March to complain that her neighbor, Mike Napier, was operating a boat repair business out of his house.
"I was told at the meeting that I attended last year that he'd be sent a letter because it's a residential area, and he shouldn't be repairing [boats] at his house," she said then. "I get the fumes in my yard and in my house because I'm cheap. I don't use air conditioning. When I spoke to [Mr. Napier], he said he never received a letter."
Mayor Billy Simpson said he instructed Jasper Police Chief Tim Graham to investigate the complaint.
"The reason I had Chief Graham contact [Mr. Napier] was we've had numerous, numerous complaints," he said. "Our ordinance states that you cannot run a retail business out of a residential home. That's it. You just can't do it."
Napier, who owns Mike's Boat Repair, admits he works at his house occasionally but said he rarely starts the outboard motors on which he works. He said he erected a 6-foot-tall fence around the back of his property to keep his neighbors happy.
Napier said he hopes to open his business somewhere along U.S. Highway 41 in Jasper when it's financially feasible. For now, he said he will not start any boat motors other than his own on his property.
"My intention is not to keep doing any work at my house any longer than I absolutely have to," he said. "I want my neighbors to be happy, and I don't want to make anybody mad."
Graham said he has checked with other neighbors and there are no complaints about Napier's business activities.
"What's really loud to one person may not be so loud to another person," he said. "What he's doing right now is just temporary."
Even though Napier's business website invites customers to "bring your boat to me" and Alderman Paul Evans said he has seen as many as four boats at the property at one time, city administrators unanimously agreed that Napier is making every effort to limit any problems.
"If [Mr. Napier] gives us his word that he's not going to start any motors other than his own boat at his house, I don't see a problem," Simpson said.
Acting Jasper Attorney Billy Gouger said Schwarz could make a legal issue out of the dispute, but it would be a private matter and wouldn't concern the board.
Since Napier is making a temporary use out of his house because of financial necessity, Gouger said, the town could cite him if officials wanted to.
"What purpose would you be serving?" he said. "He's making a concerted effort to use the property in a way that doesn't interfere with the neighbors."
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com