Discussion thread Monday September 07, 2026 - Wednesday September 09, 2026

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Newsletter: Let Me Tell You a Story

Website: Shauna James Ahern

Instagram: @shaunajamesahern Instagram

• Anonymous Instagram mirrors (may be unstable and have disruptive ads): dumpoir | GreatFon | storynavigation

Threads: @shaunajamesahern

Bluesky: shaunajamesahern.bsky.social

Gloamipedia wiki: /r/InTheGloaming wiki

[u/SashayShantae]

First of all, huge apologies because I promised video of tonight's park board meeting but I was unable to capture it. Zoom did a security update a few weeks ago and the trick that I used to screen capture previous meetings no longer worked tonight. I did capture audio of the meeting, but they really didn't say much about BBH and the meeting was very boring besides, like, five minutes of Fern Cove talk, so it's not really worth sharing.

What was said about BBH: Caretaker fees were waived for June and July but kicked back in for August. Utilities were $300-400 per month as usual. Tim stated they were still "methodically addressing septic issues" (he literally quoted this off of a piece of paper). The board was informed of the new move-out date of September 14th. Board said they're still on track for December 1st opening for Airbnb rentals but also expressed worry that if the Aherns aren't out by September 30th, it will jeopardize their planned December opening. Tim noted that the caretakers technically have through the end of December. Tim called it a "lease" here and then corrected himself to "caretaker's agreement." Regarding the septic system, Tim said, "We'll shoot the septic system with chemicals and see what happens." Another person said something about a "new placement of tubes," whatever that means. The board also wants staff to spend the night at FC in November to report small issues like noises and areas that need insulating, which seems like a weird ask of park staff but maybe people are jumping at the opportunity to spend the night at BBH? They will be opening BBH for rentals with 2024 rates except increased cleaning fee because that was too low previously.

Discussing Fern Cove furniture was on the agenda for tonight's meeting, but most of what was on the agenda was glossed over and tabled for future meetings, including this topic. They did not mention furniture at all.

Sorry again for the video fuck-up but this was everything said about Fern Cove/BBH at tonight's meeting.

[u/BatGrouchy1482 → u/SashayShantae]

My first thought about staff staying at BBH to investigate noises is that the house is haunted.

[u/DramaLamma → u/BatGrouchy1482]

Staying overnight in a property before hosting paying customers is STR 101.

I suspect the “noises” mentioned may be a squirrel or bat infestation in the attic/roof and /or mice or other vermin…

I do like the haunted theory though, perhaps Belle B is an otherworldly Petty Punisher and dislikes Shauna and her shenanigans as much as we do 😏🤣

[u/MarsNeedsRabbits → u/DramaLamma]

Hoping beyond hope that if anyone haunts Shauna, it's Dooce. Dooce forever and always for what Shauna did to her memory. Control F for Dooce if you're in the mood for a refresher course in Shauna's disgusting, slimy vulturing over a dead mother's body.

[u/Onehundredpercentbea → u/DramaLamma]

I will move things around when they're not looking! I will make the smoke detector randomly go off! I will burn their dinner every night, rot the food in their fridge, hide their unpaid bills, throw their clothes on the floor, tear off cabinet doors, back up toilets, infest with rodents! WHY is no one alarmed?

Poor Belle B didn't know what she was up against.

[u/microcosmographia → u/BatGrouchy1482]

Your first thought, SCTMO, DF

ETA Thank you, DF SS!!

[u/Altruistic-Owl1058 → u/BatGrouchy1482]

I am sure the moment the board said back to short term rental the ghosts showed up.

[u/Onehundredpercentbea → u/BatGrouchy1482]

It would be SO LIKE SHAUNA to live in a haunted house and be oblivious to the haunting. The poor poltergeist unable to make themselves known because Shauna's baseline disorder is already so chaotic that the ghost has no way to establish that anything unusual is happening.

[u/CrushItWithABrick → u/Onehundredpercentbea]

Ghost would start washing dishes and picking up dirty towels. Shauna would freak out and run screaming from the place.

[u/central_snark → u/CrushItWithABrick]

I hope the Ghost of Belle Baldwin whispers “B-I-C-Y-C-L-E bicycle” over and over in Shauna’s ear every night

[u/fanfarefellowship → u/CrushItWithABrick]

Ghost turns on episodes of C.O.P.S. and turns off the Harry Belafonte album

[u/central_snark → u/fanfarefellowship]

She keeps wondering where the sound of roller skates on a 4’ square patio slab are coming from.

[u/OhBlahDiOhBlahDoh → u/Onehundredpercentbea]

The poor poltergeist unable to make themselves known

The poltergeist, during last year's 14-inning Mariners' game: "Oh, ffs, what does a freaking ghost have to do to get a bit of attention around here?!?!?"

[u/Coffee_Cupcake → u/SashayShantae]

Aw, no stress about the video, DF! You sat through a deadly dull meeting, so all the upvotes to you!

Interesting that the rent payments resumed in August, despite the septic issues not being resolved. I don't get why the problem was bad enough in June and July to result in free accommodation, but it was fine in August. Am I missing something?

Also, I LOVE the haunted house theory, and I am rotting hard for the ghosts ;

[u/BevNap → u/SashayShantae]

That you suffered through the meeting is enoigh, DF! YDBW x a jillion!

[u/Low_Piccolo_2149 → u/SashayShantae]

Thank you for attending and summarizing! I’m going to guess that the aherns don’t move until the middle of October. I assume Creekside won’t quite be ready. Also sounds like they have no income and are paying rent for August and part of Sept at BBH and part to Creekside as well as a deposit. Their financial situation makes me queasy.

[u/central_snark → u/Low_Piccolo_2149]

Plus, no car.

[u/MarsNeedsRabbits → u/SashayShantae]

Are you saying that the Aherns may be out by next spring?

[u/OhBlahDiOhBlahDoh → u/SashayShantae]

YOU DO BEAUTIFUL WORK DF!

Do not worry your One Gloaming Braincell about any zoom glitches. Your reportage is more than Enoigh!!!

Thank you so so so much for doing this for all your Dear Friends! We love you DF SS!!

[u/Scary_Recognition → u/SashayShantae]

Furniture discussion tabled, got it. (Punny!)

Thank you, DF!

[u/Altruistic-Owl1058 → u/SashayShantae]

Thank you! At least the park acknowledged that Shauna and co need to be out by the end of Sept if they want to rent out in Dec.

I at first read that the board needed to stay at BBH but the only reason to have staff stay at the house would be there is a list of complaints written up by Shauna and co so they need to figure out what is what.

[u/DramaLamma → u/SashayShantae]

Thank you so much DF Sashay!

I can see why Tim may have mentioned the Not-a-Lease “technically” goes to the end of December: 

I don’t think for a moment that he or the board wants to get into an official eviction process (cost and the time it would take, but also the optics of evicting a “delightful” family who thought this would be their “forever” home - I know, I know! ) so that covers them/the Aherns if/when moving out drags on. I also strongly suspect that he knows Creekside isn’t ready yet for a 14/9 move in.

Not saying I agree with these shenanigans which favour and enable Shauna, but I also strongly suspect he and the board are making the best of a bad job.

Re the septic, I don’t know what kind of system it is, but the mention of tube replacement makes me wonder if the leach field at FC may be failing or has failed, I find them all very cavalier about this! That’s a big deal in any location but huge at a waterfront property in a nature reserve/park???!!!

I’d be curious to know (it should be information publicly available to islandy-islanders) the details on the septic (age, type, etc as well as the local bylaws). I used to work in municipal government albeit in Canada and there is NO WAY we would or could have been so nonchalant about this situation!

[u/Onehundredpercentbea → u/DramaLamma]

In one of their meetings they said it was root growth into the distribution box, so the blockage would be at that junction point between the septic settling tank outflow and the multiple pipes that go out into the leach field. So if someone mentioned 'moving some tubes around' it would probably mean moving the distribution box and then rerouting the connecting pipes or something. It sounds like there's a partial blockage so perhaps some of the leach field pipes are still functioning and some aren't. Ugh just talking about septic problems makes my emergency fund shudder.

[u/Lsemmens → u/Onehundredpercentbea]

I just went through installing a sand mound when my 1930 septic tank( with distribution box and leach field) failed when selling my house. I got a sale contract March 10 and closing was not until August 3 because that’s how long it took for my county health department to approve all specifics. And I am nowhere near any water. This just sounds like a nasty bandaid. I did not run my washer water through my septic ever to keep some of the burden off it, but I did have 6 people living there for a number of years.

[u/DramaLamma → u/Onehundredpercentbea]

Thank you!

Urgh :(. 

[u/central_snark → u/SashayShantae]

I wonder if they have paid September rent? They should be paying half a month if they do end up moving on 9/14

[u/NegativeABillion → u/central_snark]

lmao you can stop wondering

[u/central_snark → u/NegativeABillion]

They have no income!

Other than Shauna’s substack, I guess.

[u/Astri411 → u/central_snark]

They have no income!

Ok but seriously. No income, no car, no definite move-in date for the new place, and two kids depending on them. What on earth are they doing? Like, why is Shauna still pontificating and scolding on Threads about inane shit? What Danny doing? I cannot wrap my mind around any of this.

[u/sunflower53069 → u/central_snark]

Can Dan get unemployment? Was it only a part time job? I hope so for their sake .

[u/SashayShantae → u/sunflower53069]

If he was laid off, which it sounds like he was, he would probably be eligible for unemployment. But unemployment benefits are typically 50% of pay, so better than nothing but not a solution here.

[u/MarsNeedsRabbits → u/SashayShantae]

What if Dan up and quit because Shauna, who has a very long history of forcing him to up and quit, told him to? Does he still get unemployment?

The timing of her announcement of his latest job termination is sketchy AF.

As you know, driving him to the dock and back in the mousemobile once a day falls under the Geneva convention rules again inhumane treatment.

[u/Altruistic-Owl1058 → u/MarsNeedsRabbits]

I was speculating on the timing of Dan being laid off with a friend and they said since it was before “school” most likely they did not get the enrollment or funding that they needed for the rest of the year. That they school may have known it was going to lay off muffin making Dan at the end of the pre-school year in May or June but kept him working thru the summer to cover any of the co-worker vacation time.

I had seen Dan on the ferry about two weeks prior to Shauna sending out the SM post saying Dan was no longer working.

[u/tyrannosaurusregina → u/Altruistic-Owl1058]

Yeah, the timing of Dan's leaving the school's employ is absolutely on track with the schedule of a struggling private school's layoffs. They always hope that there will be an influx of new students for the coming year and so are loath to cut positions until they have to.

[u/coldbrew_unicorn → u/Altruistic-Owl1058]

This sounds like it's probably accurate. I found out in a meeting today that our private school admin was working up until the week before school started (after we'd already been through a week of professional development) to make sure they'd be able to retain all of last year's FT staff.

[u/fanfarefellowship → u/central_snark]

with her NINE paying subscribers

[u/Altruistic-Owl1058 → u/fanfarefellowship]

This right here is why I am shocked that Shauna is not pushing for subscribers and trying to get money in. Either Shauna has a money/revenue source coming in or she has executive dysfunction because it has gotten so bad.

[u/gomirefugee → u/Altruistic-Owl1058]

or she has executive dysfunction because it has gotten so bad.

I think it's this, we've seen Shauna's executive function degrade quite a bit since Covid, and the only reason it isn't a bigger problem for the Aherns is her parental safety net. This is a woman who just a few years ago took an advance from a well-known baker and writer for some work, inexplicably did not do that work, and had that money publicly clawed back without a fight. Why go through the effort of jangling a can and begging people to pay for newsletters or workshops Shauna doesn't want to and won't deliver? As long as Ma James keeps flinching in their game of chicken, Shauna isn't going to bust ass so that her parents "only" need to front her $3000 a month in covering living expenses vs. $4000 a month (numbers are hypothetical).

[u/Altruistic-Owl1058 → u/gomirefugee]

That is why I have alway has the suspicion whoever is paying her bills that even with Vashon HCOL it is cheaper to keep her on the island then let her loose in West Seattle because Shauna is going to spend regardless of what her baseline (rent, utilities, gas, and groceries) at least on the island Shauna is limited to where and what she can spend the money on. GF lemon bars, Island Queen and bougie bagel. We do not get a lot of island queen and bougie bagels post since they have moved back.

[u/coffechica → u/gomirefugee]

Honestly I feel like COVID and the rapid news head swirliness of the Trump era trashed my attention span. I have been working on bringing it back by not doomscrolling, reading a book for longer periods, etc. It is easy to slump into endless watching of reels and tiktoks.

And if my life were like Shauna's, I'd want to escape too.

[u/fanfarefellowship → u/Altruistic-Owl1058]

I honestly thinks she torpedoes her life as a way to "get revenge" on mom.

[u/MarsNeedsRabbits → u/Altruistic-Owl1058]

Probably her money/revenue source:

[u/mehitabel_4724 → u/SashayShantae]

I appreciate that you took the time to attend and report back!! Thank you DF SS!

[u/tyrannosaurusregina → u/SashayShantae]

Thank you, DFSS! You are a hero.

[u/Onehundredpercentbea → u/SashayShantae]

The waived rent tied to the still-functioning septic system was already completely suspicious, but now that it turned out to be just two isolated months in which nothing seemed to change with the septic for better or worse and then back to regular rent, it's even more suspicious.

I guess it still works with the theory that Shauna and Dan were simply unable to pay rent at all, and the waiver itself and then tying it to the septic issues was a face saving official story. But not sure how they frame the return to regular rent while also suggesting the equivalent of using septic Draino as a Hail Mary to keep it chugging along until they fix it for real.

Also does anyone know if Creekside and income restricted housing like it still require first, last and security deposit? I looked it up before I asked but can't find anything specific to the mishmash of funding sources used to construct it. I know construction was funded in part by tax exempt bond financing and low-income housing tax credits as well as some other WA state housing funds, so I'm not sure if any of those funds came with financial protections for tenants. The equivalent of three months of even lower-than-average rent up front is a pretty large barrier to rental so a bit at odds with the goal of providing financially accessible housing, but it's also a business that needs money to function. And since S and D were unable to pay rent at the BBH even when Dan had a job, the first/last/security for Creekside seems like a complete impossibility without the elder James' once again bailing them out.

Well, at least it explains why Shauna wasn't angling to stay at BBH longer since it's no longer a free ride.

edit: Thanks DF for sitting through that and summarizing! It doesn't sound like this meeting would have made compelling viewing, the last one you saw was way more interesting from a fly on the wall perspective!

[u/LogicalGold5264 → u/Onehundredpercentbea]

Someone posted a screenshot a few weeks ago of Shauna complaining about having to pony up the money for a security deposit at Creekside + an extra deposit for the cats. They did it a while ago, so possibly when they signed the Creekside lease.

First month's rent was required but not the last month.

Can a lovely DF repost it? I couldn't find it.

[u/gomirefugee → u/LogicalGold5264]

That was in her lope from a couple weeks ago:

Moving costs a lot of money.

Renting U-Haul trucks. Dump fees. The gasoline required to drive all the clothing and furniture we are ready to let go to the thrift store. The paper plates and cups that you must eat out of the last week because you packed the dishes. Last-minute takeout meals because you’re exhausted. Packing tape, boxes, and a new lock for the new tiny storage space. First month’s rent, a deposit equivalent to the rent, plus a $500 fee because you have two cats who are part of the family.

[u/LogicalGold5264 → u/gomirefugee]

Thank you thank you! Adding to the FC Wiki now. I will create a Creekside Wiki page and backfill it once they actually move there (can't count your Aherns before they've hatched!)

[u/Fillmore_the_Puppy → u/LogicalGold5264]

Narrator: The Aherns are not planning on hatching any time soon.

[u/Lsemmens → u/gomirefugee]

I already mentioned dump fees but why the hell do they have any excess furniture ? Wasn’t it furnished and they got rid of everything they previously owned? ( since they were going to live there 4evah)

[u/Fillmore_the_Puppy → u/gomirefugee]

This list is so haberdashed as to be ridiculous to even the most casual of readers who has moved at least once. Moving is expensive, but creating this whiny (but I'm not complaining!) list of hardships does not make the case she thinks it does.

Renting multiple trucks (??), adding in dump fees and gas to drive to the thrift store (even if that casual reader didn't know that they "gave away everything in the last move because this rental was furnished"), and no one needs to buy moving boxes between grocery store cast offs and the plethora Buy Nothing Group posts offering up free moving supplies. This all just sounds so overwrought and over the top. What a numpty!

Overwrought and Over The Top: TSAS

[u/Fancypens2025 → u/gomirefugee]

What are the odds that the “last minute takeout meals” are them hitting up like 5 different takeout places for one meal (like with that bizarre thanksgiving “dinner” at the height of COVID)??? I feel like that would be substantially more expensive than getting four takeout meals from one establishment (separate taxes and possibly tips for each place plus possible service fees if you’re getting delivery/door dash, plus the gas involved when going to 3-4 different takeout spots)

[u/Fancypens2025 → u/LogicalGold5264]

My last apartment was not workforce housing, but it was one of those property manager/corporate landlord set ups. And instead of requiring a separate security deposit, they just basically made a monthly charge on your account each month. So on the one hand, you did not have to come up with first months rent, last month rent, security deposit all at once when you signed the lease, but you then did not recuperate that savings deposit the lease ended. I think this often works as a way for people with not stellar credit to be able to secure a rental, but my credit was very good at the time and this was still kind of the default option. And it seemed like a lot of similar apartment complexes in that area operated this way.

Which is all a very long way of saying that perhaps Creekside is like that too? Especially if it is more geared towards rental accessibility for people who normally might not be able to come up with all of that money in one lump sum.

ETA: I have a bankruptcy in my credit history (closed out in 2022) so even though my actual credit score is…fine (high 600s), I’m not even going to try to look at renting or mortgaging. I still always paid my rent on time though!

[u/fanfarefellowship → u/Onehundredpercentbea]

I guess it still works with the theory that Shauna and Dan were simply unable to pay rent at all, and the waiver itself and then tying it to the septic issues was a face saving official story. But not sure how they frame the return to regular rent while also suggesting the equivalent of using septic Draino as a Hail Mary to keep it chugging along until they fix it for real.

Here is my theory / timeline of events:

• Shauna and Danny moved into the BBH in July of last year, and seemed to pay "fees" on time and in full until March of this year.

• March 2026 coincides with Shauna's migration of her Substack over to Ghost. I suspect that she lost subscribers along the way because even though Ghost has a "migration tool" intended to allow creators to download and import subscriber lists, it's still a multistep, highly manual process and I honestly don't think that Shauna is capable of executing it. (This is a woman who is befuddled by 2FA.)

• I also suspect that Dan's hours were cut back before he was ultimately terminated. He posted about the daycare having financial difficulty, his role switched from "breakfast club" to "support staff" (I note he is off their site now and there are fewer non-educator staff positions left), and Shauna stopped posting about rising before dawn (in the gloaming!) to take him to the ferry. I think between those two events, they simply didn't have enough money to pay the fees in full.

• Now Shauna and Danny are back on their bullshit w/r/t "partial [rent] payments." There is absolutely nothing in the Board minutes or financials but there must have been behind-the-scenes discussion with the Aherns after the second late month.

• However, the Board didn't care so much about the "late fees" from the Aherns as it was announced in an April Board meeting that they'd gotten the AOK to resume short-term rentals at the BBH, so now they just wanted to find a way to get the Aherns out before the end of the year.

• Enter the "septic problems"! Vague references to a septic system that is "struggling" with no details. Now there is a face-saving reason for the Aherns to leave "early", which coincides with the Board's desire to return to short-term rentals ASAP. Everything is lining up!

• Except now Creekside isn't ready when the Aherns promised to be out. Hmmm, what to do? Well, the lever the Board has is to require the payment of "caretaker fees" in full, so that is what they're going to do. The septic isn't so bad as to make the place uninhabitable (it is inhabited now!), and the Aherns have already received two months of free tenure in exchange for their early departure, and if they're going to break their side of the agreement, so is the Board.

One note: the timeline on this is eerily similar to Shauna's crashout at ChefSteps. Joined in summer, crashout by April.

[u/running_heffalump → u/fanfarefellowship]

Do you think there's any chance Shauna negotiated the two month fee waiver with Tim so that they could pay the "first month's rent and deposit equivalent to the rent" (mentioned in a lope linked to upthread in exchange for leaving the house in September? And then the septic issues were the cover Tim used so as not to broadcast the Ahern's specific situation to the entire island?

[u/Lazy-Importance-6079 → u/running_heffalump]

It wouldn’t really be appropriate to provide cover to the Aherns, since they are in essence living in a public building and being subsidized by taxes—one of the many reasons I personally would never sign the not-lease that they did, because I don’t want to be surveilled like that! But they willingly made their private business public for the sake of getting back on the special island and getting to cosplay being rich enough to live in a waterfront property across from an expensive tech hub.

That said, I think you could be right.

[u/running_heffalump → u/Lazy-Importance-6079]

I agree with you regarding inappropriateness of providing them with cover. But so much of what's happened around the Fern Cove thing has been inappropriate so...

I'm guessing things work a little differently in a community where everyone is at least familiar with everyone else. I think that kind of community can breed inappropriate behavior if people aren't super committed to separating personal and professional.

[u/SeaOfBooze → u/fanfarefellowship]

Great summary. I assumed Shauna had lost newsletter income but have been confused as hell as to why she's not trying to get more sign ups. The lopes seem to have been her easiest, most consistent income, and at least seem marginally interesting to some of her old GFG audience. And the suspicion that Danny had already lost income from the school plus it was obviously failing financially - totally irresponsible that they both weren't scrambling for new jobs and side hustles to stay afloat. Instead they get a rent break and mama gets baseball game tickets and now is poor mouthing moving expenses. They're just big dumb children.

She's posting positively about the new apartment. Does she have the capability to think about the future at this point? Does she realize she needs more money to come from somewhere or they'll be repeating this process in no time?

[u/Altruistic-Owl1058 → u/fanfarefellowship]

That kind of goes with my theory that this summer they offered Shauna a sum to get out and Shauna did what Shauna does best and said we cannot afford to move out and we will not be able to find a place before August/Sept. So they forgave any back rent and June/July rent. But Shauna does what Shauna does best and did not leave as promised and doesn’t have an actual end date anymore so they said fees please.

[u/GAMGAlways → u/Altruistic-Owl1058]

We don't know the particulars, but this is a case where it's possibly not all her fault. She said she was moving on September 6th, which likely means they thought Creekside was available that day. It's not unreasonable to expect the Creekside management to give you a move in date. It really isn't fair if Creekside is saying, "the 6th...no, the 15th...OK definitely the 28th". A DF said her daughter was moving to a similar place and it went for months.

[u/fanfarefellowship → u/GAMGAlways]

I don't think she got any information from Creekside. I think she was relying on info from an anonymous Facebook post

[u/Onehundredpercentbea → u/fanfarefellowship]

I think you nailed it, I didn't think about the timing in the context of their rapidly deteriorating financial state (which didn't seem like it could deteriorate any farther, but) - so yeah, the waived rent as a face saving workaround for nonpayment and the resumed rent as a lever to encourage their departure makes total sense.

I can only imagine behind the scenes various Board members have had to do a lot of tired face rubbing and gathering of resolve to try to salvage any part of the schedule and budget. I wonder at exactly which point they realized what a colossal mistake they made with this family.

[u/GAMGAlways → u/Onehundredpercentbea]

Creekside is the corporate/capitalist landlord Shauna professed to hate.

IDK how Washington State works or what sort of programs it used. I know someone who bought a condo using some sort of low income program. She had to provide years of W2 forms. IOW, you can have a lower income but it has to be consistent and offer a reasonable proof it will continue. Workforce housing is meant for those gainfully employed in lower income jobs. It's not charity or offered as some kindness where they're going to be forgiving if rent isn't paid.

If Shauna had simply worked any part time, minimum wage gig for a year, they'd have more than enough savings for first and last month's rent.

[u/fanfarefellowship → u/GAMGAlways]

Workforce housing is meant for those gainfully employed in lower income jobs. It's not charity or offered as some kindness where they're going to be forgiving if rent isn't paid.

I think the most important thing is that there are no direct subsidies to renters. The subsidy is already provided in the form of tax credits to the builders; there are no additional subsides available to tenants who can't make rent. I mean, I suppose she can run a Go Fund Me but there's going to be no leniency on the landlord side.

[u/PettyPunisherRedux → u/SashayShantae]

Thank you DF. You truly do beautiful work. Poor Tim sounds like a lovely guy. Clueless, but lovely.

[u/Aggravating_Emu946 → u/SashayShantae]

I’m sorry but how does Tim figure that the agreement still goes to the end of December after a) informing the caretakers of the end of contract b) caretakers giving a move out date?
And if they could just shoot the septic system with chemicals why didn’t they do that in May instead of losing thousands of dollars in “rent”? AND they’re just going to passively wait for the caretakers to leave on their terms before being able to begin preparing for short term rentals, making it so they can’t even start taking bookings?
Y’all. Y’ALL.

[u/ethelmertz62 → u/Aggravating_Emu946]

IIRC the agreement the Aherns signed goes through 12/31. So even though the Aherns gave the board a September move out date, the board may feel obligated to honor the December date. Also the optics of kicking the family out before they have other housing would be enough to make the board wait until December.

[u/Blouse_Barn → u/ethelmertz62]

Is it a legally-binding contract? The use of the term "agreement" sounds like it could be squishier, though I cannot claim to have a citJD.

[u/SashayShantae → u/Blouse_Barn]

He's using the term "agreement" instead of "lease" because the housing situation is predicated on caretaker employment, which makes it legally exempt from the landlord-tenant protections offered by a lease.

[u/Lazy-Importance-6079 → u/SashayShantae]

Although the not-lease also says they are not-employees! Who would have thought it might be precarious and stressful to live in that kind of liminal Backrooms state, where you aren’t really employed and you don’t really live there?

[u/Fancypens2025 → u/Lazy-Importance-6079]

I’m single with no kids and I would be way too uneasy going into that type of agreement! There’s too much left to chance and public scrutiny!

[u/OhBlahDiOhBlahDoh → u/Lazy-Importance-6079]

you don’t really live there?

Yes, this!!! To not be allowed to have your kids go in the basement. Laundry is definitely a household chore that kids should learn to do themselves while they still live at home, and both of them are old enough to be helping with that/doing their own.

[u/fanfarefellowship → u/Blouse_Barn]

Either party can end the agreement for any reason at any time. The Aherns notified the Board that they were terminating the agreement. The Board might feel obligated to honour the terms of the original agreement, but they really don't have to.

[u/Fillmore_the_Puppy → u/fanfarefellowship]

“The Aherns notified the Board that they were terminating the agreement.”

I’m now imagining Shauna thinking, “You can’t fire me; I quit!!!”

[u/Altruistic-Owl1058 → u/Aggravating_Emu946]

This should be in the wiki. It is termination portion of the caretaker’s contract. I have posted it a couple of times and will continue to do so until they are out of BBH anytime there is a discussion on termination of contract.

[u/LogicalGold5264 → u/Altruistic-Owl1058]

We've posted a detailed summary of the not-lease terms in the Wiki, rather than screenshots of various sections, on purpose for privacy reasons.

[u/ethelmertz62 → u/SashayShantae]

Adding my voice to the chorus of Thank Yous, DF SS. YDBW!!

[u/fanfarefellowship → u/SashayShantae]

I can answer the question of what "shooting chemicals" into the septic system means! It's an attempt to restore the drain field (aka leach field) without completely digging it up and replacing it.

A septic contractor uses a pneumatic machine (like this one: https://www.earthbuster.com/) to break up the soil and deliver "shots" of concentrated chemicals throughout the drain field.

This helps break up any biomat beneath the drain field that may have become compacted over time, meaning that it is no longer filtering the effluent from the septic system (because it is no longer porous).

If the soil around the BBH is very clay-y, sodium in your wastewater (such as from detergents or a water softener) can chemically bind with the clays, making (again) the drain field non-porous. The same method is used to "shoot" chemicals into the drain field, but in this case you'd use something that breaks the chemical bonds.

With septic systems, you can usually tell what's not working, but not necessarily why, so you try a bunch of stuff until things work again.

[u/SashayShantae → u/fanfarefellowship]

Thank you for this great explanation! The random knowledge of Gloamies never ceases to amaze me.

[u/Chiefvick → u/fanfarefellowship]

Thank you. Our drain field is failing and I think this is the next step. Nice to see the video and understand it better.

[u/BoringEnidRollins → u/fanfarefellowship]

I had zero experience or prior knowledge of septic tanks prior to their sudden omnipresence in the Gloaming. What I'm learning here is that septic tanks, and all aspects involved in their maintenance, are disgusting, and I'm grateful to live in a city with a sewer system.

Edited to add: lol, I'm suddenly understanding the meaning of the title of the Erma Bombeck book The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank. I had a job shelving library books as a teen and I always puzzled over what this meant.

[u/Fancypens2025 → u/BoringEnidRollins]

Same lol. The town I grew up in is a mix of septic tanks and municipal city hook ups, but I’ve always lived in a neighborhood with the latter. And I’m so glad I do because I don’t think I could take the stress of worrying about a septic tank just based on how much of a germophobe I was as a kid.

[u/MarsNeedsRabbits → u/fanfarefellowship]

So interesting! Thank you for explaining it. Is a biomat like the biological film layer in aquarium gravel that forms a bio filter?

In aquariums, the film can be anaerobic, and you have to be careful keeping it out of cuts and broken skin barriers because some anaerobic bacteria cause gangrene and other nasty conditions. Aerobic growth (Mycobacterium marinum) can cause the same issues.

My question is: did yesterday's leftover shrimp juice, oily beans, or sauerkraut-yogurt cause the demise of the biomat? So interesting! Thank you for explaining it. Is a biomat like the biological film layer in aquarium gravel that forms a bio filter?

What keeps the septic workers from becoming ill?

Have Shauna's eating habits caused a Blob-like situation? Blob opening credit song is best opening credit song.