AN UPDATE AND DISCUSSION regarding the Loyalton Mobile Estates (LME) mobile home park was held at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, July 18th in Loyalton. Supervisor Jim Beard stated he was asked to place this item on the agenda. He said no action would be taken, but the public was welcome to ask questions. County Counsel added the public could make comments and ask questions, but some may not be answered, due to this topic having been in closed session. Sierra County Public Works Director Tim Beals stated there was not a lot he could add but was asked to delay any enforcement on the LME pending County Counsel’s work with Housing and Community Development (HCD). He said there have been some responsible actions taken by residents to clean up the park, adding it was a continuing effort. Beals stated he did give permission for residents to take recyclables and scrap metal to the landfill. He said the City of Loyalton’s effort to provide a process for individual water surface payments was met with strong, internal resistance and he is now being told it is not being pursued at this point. Beals concluded that he is prepared to move forward with an enforcement action once it can occur. County Counsel said as of right now there was intent to revoke the HCD license, but that has been delayed due to the owner requesting hearings. He didn’t anticipate there would be any action other than the revocation without substantial change in circumstances. Beals stated he felt the County was on a procedural track and stated it would be foolish to step outside of the track. He said County Counsel needed to have the time to coordinate with HCD, adding he wasn’t sure where the process would take them. Beals stressed the need to proceed cautiously so the County doesn’t expose itself to a liability of greater magnitude down the road.
LME resident, David Allen stated the Park was still having problems with some of the residents abandoning cars and piling up garbage. He said he sees progress, but felt they needed to push people to do more. Allen felt LME was worth saving, but needs more action, adding “there are a lot of crack heads in there.” He said he took his guns to his son’s house, so they aren’t stolen.
Jim Rimmer, self-proclaimed manager of the LME, stated the main problem was Kevin Pagel was legally evicted and still brings trash in everyday. He said the Sheriff’s department hasn’t done anything about taking the squatters out. Rimmer wanted the County to work with him to keep people out. Supervisor Lee Adams stated the issue was the absence of the property owner and it is still private property. He said Rimmer couldn’t self appoint himself unless the property owner gave him the power to act on his behalf. Adams suggested Rimmer, in trying to keep anyone else from moving in, to talk with the owner, and see if he could act on his behalf since the owner is now back in the picture. Sierra County Sheriff Tim Standley, wanted to let the Board know, the Sheriff’s Department has never received a lawful eviction process on Pagel. Rimmer disagreed. Standley told him if he could produce the court document they would revisit it.
The discussion continued and Beals asked if Rimmer thought residents of LME would pay the solid waste fee to access the landfill. Sierra County Auditor/Treasurer/Tax Collector Van Maddox said if the license is withdrawn, any amount of money they paid into the solid waste fee may be for naught if they have to move. Beals said there should be a refund if that happens.
From the audience, Eileen Benson stated the entire park is going to the landfill anyway if the license is revoked, so didn’t see why the County wouldn’t assist ahead of time. She said since the residents stopped paying space rent for 66 months they have received $26,800 in free space rent. She didn’t understand why that wasn’t plenty of money to move their trailer down the road or just move. Benson also questioned what was being done with the code violations. She stated she couldn’t do that at her house, and asked why they are allowed to have cords going from trailer to trailer, adding it was a fire hazard. County Counsel responded by stating the code violations are covered under the State licensure. He said when the process is complete the State doesn’t have the power to abate them, adding the County will use their final documents to be filed with the court for an abatement process. Benson said that sounded like double talk. Maddox said it was real simple, the State took the authority away and put it in its own hands, adding the County doesn’t get the authority until the license is revoked. Supervisor Scott Schlefstein said it is a State legal process and a lot of things are going on. Benson wanted to know who the attorney was and who they were talking to at the state level so she could contact them on her own. Benson said it was outrageous that this was still happening. She encouraged the Board to drive through the park before meetings. Adams felt Benson was spot on when she talked about how much residents have saved since they quit paying. He added that anybody who has a home in there that is less than what they’ve saved in 66 months should be looking at someplace else. Adams said he would get Benson the HCD contact name
LME resident, Monica Funk, thought the park would sell, and thought business would come back in. She said people won’t pay $22 a month for dumpsters so doesn’t see them paying for solid waste fees. Funk stated, things need to be done, and said the County said they would do something about the squatters. Maddox responded and said when the State was there, it did look like they were going to work jointly with the code violations. He said the State has now asked the County to back off for the time being.
LME resident, David Allen stated the Park was still having problems with some of the residents abandoning cars and piling up garbage. He said he sees progress, but felt they needed to push people to do more. Allen felt LME was worth saving, but needs more action, adding “there are a lot of crack heads in there.” He said he took his guns to his son’s house, so they aren’t stolen.
Jim Rimmer, self-proclaimed manager of the LME, stated the main problem was Kevin Pagel was legally evicted and still brings trash in everyday. He said the Sheriff’s department hasn’t done anything about taking the squatters out. Rimmer wanted the County to work with him to keep people out. Supervisor Lee Adams stated the issue was the absence of the property owner and it is still private property. He said Rimmer couldn’t self appoint himself unless the property owner gave him the power to act on his behalf. Adams suggested Rimmer, in trying to keep anyone else from moving in, to talk with the owner, and see if he could act on his behalf since the owner is now back in the picture. Sierra County Sheriff Tim Standley, wanted to let the Board know, the Sheriff’s Department has never received a lawful eviction process on Pagel. Rimmer disagreed. Standley told him if he could produce the court document they would revisit it.
The discussion continued and Beals asked if Rimmer thought residents of LME would pay the solid waste fee to access the landfill. Sierra County Auditor/Treasurer/Tax Collector Van Maddox said if the license is withdrawn, any amount of money they paid into the solid waste fee may be for naught if they have to move. Beals said there should be a refund if that happens.
From the audience, Eileen Benson stated the entire park is going to the landfill anyway if the license is revoked, so didn’t see why the County wouldn’t assist ahead of time. She said since the residents stopped paying space rent for 66 months they have received $26,800 in free space rent. She didn’t understand why that wasn’t plenty of money to move their trailer down the road or just move. Benson also questioned what was being done with the code violations. She stated she couldn’t do that at her house, and asked why they are allowed to have cords going from trailer to trailer, adding it was a fire hazard. County Counsel responded by stating the code violations are covered under the State licensure. He said when the process is complete the State doesn’t have the power to abate them, adding the County will use their final documents to be filed with the court for an abatement process. Benson said that sounded like double talk. Maddox said it was real simple, the State took the authority away and put it in its own hands, adding the County doesn’t get the authority until the license is revoked. Supervisor Scott Schlefstein said it is a State legal process and a lot of things are going on. Benson wanted to know who the attorney was and who they were talking to at the state level so she could contact them on her own. Benson said it was outrageous that this was still happening. She encouraged the Board to drive through the park before meetings. Adams felt Benson was spot on when she talked about how much residents have saved since they quit paying. He added that anybody who has a home in there that is less than what they’ve saved in 66 months should be looking at someplace else. Adams said he would get Benson the HCD contact name
LME resident, Monica Funk, thought the park would sell, and thought business would come back in. She said people won’t pay $22 a month for dumpsters so doesn’t see them paying for solid waste fees. Funk stated, things need to be done, and said the County said they would do something about the squatters. Maddox responded and said when the State was there, it did look like they were going to work jointly with the code violations. He said the State has now asked the County to back off for the time being.
RSS Feed
