Mobile home community still ‘ overwhelmed’ with issues

Mobile home community still ‘ overwhelmed’ with issues

news@theeveningtimes.com

Lakeshore mobile home community is looking a lot cleaner thanks to recent efforts to remove trash.

But community organizers say they are still having trouble with illegal fences and residents living in pop up trailers on vacant lots springing up, and are hoping the county can help.

Cassy Bretherick, a community organizer who has spearheaded the neighborhood watch and clean up efforts, thanked the Quorum Court for all of their help addressing their concerns about trash.

Bretherick reported that they filled two Dumpsters of trash this past weekend during a community cleanup day.

'Litter day at Lakeshore this past Saturday went very well,' Bretherick said.

She gave the justices a copy of a flyer that they left on resident's doors encouraging people to help keep the park clean and said efforts are ongoing to get more people to join.

'We've kind of reactivated the neighborhood watch and people are participating more,' Bretherick said.

'But we're overwhelmed with other issues.

Bretherick said people continue to put up privacy fences without getting a building permit from the county.

'Our biggest thing is permits,' Bretherick said.

'People are still building and doing what they want.

They need to be told to go and get a permit. It will be cheaper to get a $15 permit. So I hope there is a fine if they don't go and get a permit.'

But their biggest problem lately has been the proliferation of people living in pop up trailers, she said.

'There are still several issues we need to tackle as far as people not getting permits for structures,' Bretherick said. 'But I have another camper trailer that has popped up.' Squatters are putting small campers on empty lots or by the side of the road and hooking into the utilities and living there. And as soon as they crack down and remove one, Bretherick said another one appears.

'Right now there are three,' Bretherick said.

'They're quite obvious.

They're going somewhere and getting little pop up campers and are putting them in yards or close to the street. There are wires going to where it's hooked up.'

Justice Vickie Robertson asked County Judge Woody Wheeless if he could send out code enforcement to write citations to the property

owners.

'Don't fine the person in the camper,' Robertson said. 'Fine the owner that lets them get on the property, because somebody is giving them permission to put them on the property.

And if you go after them, they will stop letting people come in.'

Wheeless said the county has written citations and forced them to be removed.

But he agrees with Bretherick that more show up every day.

'It's a never ending battle,' Wheeless said.

Justice Albert Marconi asked about a recent tire fire and what was being done about it.

'I rode up that way last week and near where the store was there were 40 or 50 tires set on fire,' Marconi said. 'They partially burned and they are still there.'

Wheeless, who is also the chief of Marion Fire Department, said he has contacted East Arkansas Solid Waste District about how to clean it up.

'It's not a tire clean up now,' Wheeless said.

'Technically, it's a hazmat and health hazard to the public. It's a totally different scenario now.'

Wheeless thanked Bretherick for her efforts and asked her to encourage residents to call his office to report violations.

'We can't be everywhere all the time,' Wheeless said. 'And I think you understand that. We rely on phone calls from people to let us know that somebody has moved in to one of these trailers or they have started putting up a fence so we can send our code enforcement officer out there.'

Justice Lisa O'Neal said Bretherick's efforts are making a noticeable difference.

'Cassy, you have made a change,' O'Neal said. 'You can see the difference. I

know you feel like you are losing, but it really looks good.'

Justice Robert Thorne agreed.

'I drove there a few weeks ago and noticed what a big difference there is,' Thorne added.

By Mark Randall