Ashvegas reader: Beaver Lake patrol upsets dog-walker

Doesn't your reader understand that Beaver Lake is a privately-owned, privately-maintained park and not a City-owned park? Her complaint has a strong odor of self-entitlement.

Hazel, sorry your sense of entitlement was so threatened you had to insult the security officer and then post your story to a blog to garner approval for your narcissistic behavior.

Sure I understand, and I love being able to walk in that park and appreciate its beauty. I just had a problem with his general demeanor in following me around the park especially after I obeyed his first orders. And if my car was trespassing even while a dog was nowhere near it, the sign needs to indicate that. How do I know I'm in the wrong place if I have no way of seeing that dictated through private property signage?

When I moved to Asheville two years ago, I wondered why that beautiful setting around Beaver Lake was not packed with people, families, dogs, kites and picnics. I too, got kicked out when I was walking my puppy there. I felt bad for the ranger or whatever he is. I hope the good citizens of Lakeview Park pay him well to enforce their utmost need for privacy.

I'm sure the APD would have loved to answer a call about failure to walk a dog with a permit and trespassing where there is no sign indicating such. [rolls eyes]….and I bet taxpayers would whole-heartedly endorse police responding to such calls as well!

Shame on those who think it's ok to walk their pets around that great man-made pond!

@North Ashevillian, actually you have quite a strong odor, and it is not self-entitlement. While I recognize and respect what the residents around Beaver Lake have to do to upkeep the park, I agree with Hazel in that the warden's actions were a little over-the-top after she chose to walk outside park property. It was obvious she would need to return to her car, and he was apparently waiting for her to do so in order to further harass her.

@Plastic Paddy, sorry you had to do the exact same thing you reprimand her for and post your unnecessary comment here.

"The Guy" works hard to keep Beaver Lake park clean, cares for the lawns, paths and trees and he enforces the rules of park. Hazel should respect a person for trying to do the job he is paid to do. I am at the park several times a week and I have never seen "the Guy" be anything but polite, friendly and conscientious – maybe because I have always been polite and friendly to him.

I understand that this park is private property but I have to agree that the 'guards' that work there are out of line in the way they treat people!

I do not respect someone who's only job is to be an arse. There is not signage around telling the general public that they and their cars and their dogs are not welcome. General dickishness, no question of that.

You have passed judgement on someone that you don't even know. I am sure that you think "the guy" is an uneducated redneck and that you can push him around. You should be ashame for boasting your confrontation with a man that was just doing his job.
"Asheville would be much better served with someone regulating activities that are actually harmful rather than good, clean fun" The someone that regulates these actitivies…….are called the Police.

Some of you should do your research. Billy is an incredibly nice person and NOT a $7 per hour rent a cop but a Game Warden. If you have an issue with Billy doing the job he is paid and respected to do, you should contact Mr. Hugh Lamb, chairman of the association which employs him. Billy is an upstanding citizen who cares about those he is paid to serve and protect. Hazel, it is beyond insulting that you consider someone doing their job (and not even asking what their job is or who they work for or what their position is) to be a "rent-a-cop" as if whatever it is YOU do for income is so much more worthy of not being made fun of. Do you know what times we are living in? people do what they have to do to support their families…and they need to do it well without slack from people like you in order to keep their jobs. Hoenstly, you shoudl be ashamed of yourself.

Put him right up there with the Woodfin police. They're not providing a service….they're generating revenue. Let's be honest here. 39 mph in a 35 and dog walking permits?

I'm tempted to go walk my dog there permit-less just so the APD does come down. ATV ranger blocks in my car when I'm trying to leave and I sue his ass for unlawful detainment, all of which I'll document on the flip camera.

The Guy in the picture seems to spend a good deal of time on that hair in the morning. I'm sure he probably think he's badass driving around on that ATV.

How long have you lived here, Hazel? It's not new or news that one needs a permit to walk a dog around Beaver Lake. It's been that way at least four years now in an effort to cut down on the number of dog walkers who don't pick up after their dogs. I guess the thought being that if you're willing to pay (I think it's $50 and not $15), then you're probably responsible enough to pick up after your pet.

I think Hazel’s comments are quite unfair and unfounded.

Billy is not a “Rent-A-Cop.” He is the park warden at Beaver Lake. That is his job. He is paid by the Lake View Park landowners. They own the lake and the surrounding park. They set the rules and they pay Billy to enforce them. They employ Billy to protect the land that they so gracious share with all. They could make the park a gated area, but luckily choose not to do that. He is doing the job he is paid to do and does it very well. He treats visitors to Beaver Lake with professionalism and courtesy.

Throughout her article, Hazel tries to belittle Billy but again her comments are unfounded.

“Here’s where it gets really confusing. ‘We don’t need signs, because this is private property,’ he said. Uh, right. That makes complete sense.”

I do not understand why Billy’s statement is “confusing” to Hazel. His statement is absolutely correct and makes “complete sense.” Beaver Lake is private property that is owned by the landowners of Lake View Park. They are the ones who actually pay for the park. The park is private property just like someone’s yard or house. While they do have signs posted that Beaver Lake is in fact privately owned and maintained, it is private property and signs are not needed. I, like most property owners in the City of Asheville, do not have any signs posting that my yard is in fact private property.

Throughout her article, Hazel shows that Billy acted with nothing but courtesy and professionalism while the same cannot be said for Hazel. Billy even used polite terms such as “Ma’am.” By Hazel’s own account, Billy asked politely about a dog permit. He explained the park was private property and that she could obtain a dog permit. It was Hazel’s behavior that appeared inappropriate and by her own admission… childish. She was the one “Fighting the urge to throw Winston’s poo back in the park after being rejected…” She was the one that “started taking pictures of him.” Him being the man simply doing his job. It was Hazel that “retorted like a bad child, angry, I’m not in the park,” when in fact she was in the park and on private property. It was Hazel that “didn’t even listen to the last part before interrupting, “Oh my god, I would love a ride on the back of that thing; that looks like a lot of fun!” And it was Hazel, who was so “thoroughly incensed,” that she “mumbled something about him being a Rent-A-Cop APD reject.” So it was Hazel who was rudely and unjustly insulting someone who was just doing his job and trying to make a living!

I too. Have been harrassed by this guy. I have lived in Asheville for years & they used to allow people to walk their dogs there without permits. I went there a couple years ago to walk around the lake with my dog. He was on me like stink on shit all in my space & being quite aggresive & intimidating. I did nothing but cooperate & suggested that perhaps their signs could be more apparent or clear. I was not there to tresspass but was unaware of the changes to their rules. I left the premises willingly but was made to feel like a criminal. At first encounter, he acted so cocky that I thought he was pulling my leg. That really pissed him off. At least now I know the new rules. There are plenty of other places to walk my dog so no biggie. He just kinda rubbed me the wrong way. If he had been on a segway, I think he would have had me arrested for laughing histerically at him. I wouldn't want his job.

Look…this response goes to the internet tough guys who had to resort to.insults instead of just stating your points. You all just seemed to attack the author without paying attention. She did precisely as she was asked. He told her to walk next to the road. She did it. Then he staked out her car…sounds sorts wannabe cop doesn't it and continued to harass her. Blocking her from leaving? Making her leave her dog while she got the car? No signs identifying property?
Id have done just as she.did and if the rentacop would've.explained the reasoning perhaps she may have bought a pass. I would buy one but I will not after seeing this jerks behavior. There are plenty other beautiful free places to.take my dogs

@$50 Paying Beaver Lake Dog Walker, that's wonderful that you appreciate Billy in his role at the park. I'm very glad to hear that he is a nice guy. However, I was in no way bothering him or being impolite when he approached me to tell me to leave the park. When I did what he asked, I felt it was discourteous and unprofessional of him to follow me! No, you may not need signage to display that an area is private property but if you don't want people parking there you certainly should! Every time I come to walk or run I park in that lot since it is in the shade and out of the way of lots of traffic. Given that I took my own bags to the park for the dog's excrement and also picked up litter there, I am not part of the crowd who would seek to destroy nature or not pick up after myself. I simply did not see a need for him to follow me and act like I had committed some sort of heinous crime. I'm not belittling his job, just how he went about it. He didn't have to be overly friendly, but considering I did what he asked he could have left me alone.

Buy a permit people! If you like the park and love walking your dog there then why not contribute to keeping the park nice. Just buy a permit, knowing it goes to a good thing that you and your dog will enjoy.

If you don't like it go to Prichard Park and walk your dog with all the transients and drug dealers.

Last thing, how would you like it if I walked my dog in your yard every day.

It seems the differing opinions on the security officer can be clearly divided between residents and non-residents of the Beaver Lake area, or rather paying and non-paying.

Of course the guard is going to be friendly to anyone he knows living in the area. You guys are paying his salary. You're the reason he has a job. But did you ever consider that maybe his demeanor comes off differently to other passer-bys, dog walkers and the like, who are not aware of the private property situation? I've lived in Asheville for years and never knew that area was off-limits to the public without paying a permit fee. I'm glad I never tried to walk my dog there, because I would've been just as surprised as the original poster.

Yes, if it's private property, you have every right to enforce the rules, but that doesn't mean this guard has to be a dick about it, as it seems he clearly has been to several others who DON'T live there. And comparing your yard to a giant lake-park directly beside a major road is not a very good analogy. It's completely understandable that a lot of people would assume this place was free and open to the public. And just because the guard puts on a smiling face for you residents doesn't mean it's not within his capacity to be a complete jackass to others.

I'm generalizing here, but private security guards often power trip on what little power they do have. It's what helps them cope with being where they are in their life and career. We've all come across these individuals.

I too have been told by this officer that it would be $50 per dog to walk in the park. Sounds to me like he is trying to suplement his income by any means necessary.

This situation is outrageous. This man is no police officer, not a security guard, and certainly not a game warden. He's a contracted worker who makes about $8 per hour to walk around in a tan uniform and look like somebody official.

If Lakeview Park wants to enforce dog walking and access to Beaver Lake, they should clearly mark the entire area with plenty of signs stating the rules and regulations. It's very understandable that people would think this is a public park.

If this was done right, he would have a printed statement about the Lake, its ownership, the rules, regulations and contact info available to anyone enters. This is being handled in a very hostile and unprofessional manner by Lakeview Park homeowners association

Lakeview should just charge people $5 to get into their neighborhood, like those a-holes in Sea Pines do in Hilton Head, SC.

Hazel is just like the rest of the liberals in this town. They think they're entitled, and that everything should be free.

I live in North Asheville but just outside the "Beaver Lake" limits, so have to pay the $50 to walk my dog, which I did because I really enjoy the park and walking my dog there-except for when I have to see the game warden. I think Billy can often be rude (and have witnessed him being so to many park enthusiasts) and very creepy. He looks/stares at women running by and say comments to his other redneck buddies hanging around with them. I think Lake View residents think he's doing a good job b/c he probably gets his job done and no one has really brought attention to his behavior before. I hope Mr. Lamb will consider these numerous complaints and figure out a better way to support the park-perhaps have an annual fundraiser instead? I love the argument "they could put up a gate if they wanted" um, its not like the park is off the beaten path-its on a main road and its 2011-pretty sure the giant gate idea is about as antiquated as they come. Maybe everyone here frustrated with the current reality of the park could come together and find a better solution that the sometimes creepy but always polite to residents security guard? I think its time for a change.

Let me start this post by stating that I am a former resident of Lakeview and payer of the parks upkeep. While I agree that our "Ranger" friend does a spectacular job on the maintenance, his methods used in policing and enforcing can be quite crude, even offensive. I have personally had words with him in the past concerning his treatment, borderline harassment, of our teenage daughter and her friend. I am sure they may not have been perfect angels but we received several reports from our daughter that led me to believe this was intentional on his part. A few things the girls said seemed a little creepy so I decided to find out the whole story. When I approached the subject with him to get his version, he became defensive and threatening toward me. Only after I disclosed my address to him did he back down and apologize. We never had an issue with him after that but I can say he is certainly capable of that stereotypical rent-a-cop-power-trip attitude. Especially to non-residents. Why the residents continue to keep Jim, I will never understand. He is not a good ambassador.

What part of private property doesn't anyone understand!

Would you just show up at the Biltmore Estate to walk your dog? No because it is private property. If you were really wanting to walk your dog there you would PAY the admission price. Just like paying to walk your dog at Beaver Lake.

Would you show up to Richmond Hill Park to walk your dog? Yes, because it is public property.

See the difference.

Whatever happened to the Golden Rule??

This guy accosts Beaver Lake residents as well as non-residents with the same enthusiasm. When I lived there and had a dog I quit walking her around the lake because the rambo cop was so obnoxious. It is one thing to do your job – but he enjoys bullying perfeclty law abiding people……especially women.

Hey is enka/Bitlmore lake open to the public ?

Hey what about the rude Kenilworth asking for taxpayer money to dredge their lake, do you walk there?

I love seeing people out using the greens, it's great. . . but sometimes rules/manners have to be followed (that's a both sides statement)

Beaverlake has been maintained by its residents for a long time, you should thank them for keeping open to the public – Hey if we didn't update our damn, maybe there wouldn't be a lake for you to walk around.

I have not seen the results, but LP home owners did send a questionaire around regarding fencing (one was a poll on an item mentioned in the comments). . . maybe your beef is with the LP Board . . but reactions like what's going on may make the next home owners assoc meeting very interesting. . . considering the questions on that survey . . .

007: great response. I lived in another state with great mountain biking trails. I rode there for twenty years. As the area built up so did the use of the park. More trash, more trail erosion, and more parking needed. They started charging a three dollar parking fee per day. I was more then ready to pay. Why? because I loved the convenience of the park to my home, and I thought it would help sustain it.

I hate the people that think everything should be free. If you don't like it go to another park, or is this one close to your home therefore more convenient.

@White Lightnin': Weird, all but two letters of "I eat shit" are in the name White Lightnin'. Just saying. Come to think of it, so are all but one letter of the word "hate"!! Wow! And so are the words "I lie" and "Lenin" and I'm pretty sure "hit me baby one more time" is in there if you look close enough.

@White Lightnin': There is a special place in my heart for hypocrites, so I'm pointing out your blindness in labeling me a "hater". If we met on the street, you might think differently. And if not, that negative energy is most likely coming from you, not me.

Several years ago I too had an uncomfortable run in with this "warden" while actually purchasing a $50 dog waking permit as required. After handing him the check which I assumed would cover the fee for a full year, the warden informed.me the pass would expire the end of the year (I believe this was late summer!) He would not pro-rate the fee and did not notify me of the terms prior to making this significant purchase! I understand this warden is not a public employee but is employed by private citizens to enforce the rules of their property, but I would think the association would prefer a more professional person to represent them.

I had an awful run in with this douchebag about a year ago, My boyfriend was renting a house on lakeview and i had parked my car at the bottom of the hill. I wanted to lay out on the side of the lake where the old swimming pool used to be, behind the old rock wall i. i had on shorts and a bathing suit, reading a book minding my business and he pulls up in his atv..demanding that i move my car right away, i ask him to hold on because i wanted to put a shirt on and he immediately calls the police. I was so polite to him, asking for just a minute to put a shirt on, he then "banned" me from beaver lake. I have not been back since. My father went and had some words with him, but clearly this guy is on some kind of horrendous power trip, i felt harassed by him for no reason. should a young woman, minding her own business be treated in such a way? I think not, Hazel this guy has his coming, he is a bastard for sure.

I visited what I thought was the public park "beaver lake" today. I was approached by this guy who told me I have to pay $50 to walk my dog in a park "in the city of Asheville" at the same time his buddy pulled a rifle out if the bed of the truck. This "park" even has the typical dog bags and signs like carrier park. I am new to town, this gave a VERY bad impression of Asheville to a new girl and her dog.

I will be taking this matter up with authorities. Mark the land, and taking guns out and trying to extort money at what looks like a public park is wrong. I respect private land, but who would know? Guns? Really?

I am sad that this has happened at Beaver Lake, I used to frequent it when i lived there. I am also sad that despite many complaints the people there have decided to employ someone who enjoys harassing women. Because whatever organization that employes him is legally liable if he does anything actionable after they have been notified by people that his behavior is harassing and intimidating (and sounds a bit like stalking). How very sad, that they choose to keep someone like this in employ. The rules can be enforced by anyone…too bad they have had to hire a ‘cop’ to ruin this experience and give the once hallowed location a terrible reputation.

um, excuse me, but you need to wake up. women here have repeatedly said they have been harassed in a way that goes beyond just enforcing the rules of the park. these rules can be enforced by anyone the park chooses to employ. two fathers of women harassed in the park have posted that they confronted this man on behalf of their daughters. these are two separate issues: a) the rules of the park and b) someone who is making women uncomfortable and making them feel threatened. it does not take *b* to enforce *a*. This behavior tends to escalate, and the Lakeview people would be wise to confront it before this happens. I imagine the Lakeview people do not gate the park because of the expense, and I imagine that rather than front the expense that would empty the park, they chose to close the park to people other than those who would pay a fee to walk dogs. So instead of shelling out cash, they decided to go ahead and make a profit. That is in no way a heroic decision or act, that is just pure capitalism.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! …..I can’t wait to run into this guy myself while I’m out walking on the path………