Hidden Lakes Estates mobile home park in Schofield. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
SCHOFIELD, WI (WSAU) — Residents of a long-troubled mobile home park in Schofield are back on uneasy footing after the City Council voted unanimously to not issue the facility an operating license for the new year along with a backdated license for 2020.
Mayor Kregg Hoehn says it was a difficult but needed decision after years of broken promises. “It’s not so much we have any… hard feelings towards anybody except the company that is running the place,” he said. “[There’s been] total disrespect for the city and its ordinances. The citizens living there are the ones that everybody is so concerned about.”
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting Alders were shown pictures of just a few trailers that have yet to be repaired. Many had missing or damaged skirting, others had mold and mildew problems and holes in the ceiling. Most also had illegal steps or blocked entrances and exits.
Owner Christopher Reeves was not present at the meeting but a Madison-based attorney, Mark Hazelbaker, was there representing the company.
Hazelbaker said he doesn’t know when Reeves last visited the park and admitted that he hasn’t had the chance to drive through himself recently. Alder Kristen Conway expressed disappointment in that, saying even in the middle of a pandemic they could take some interest in the conditions of the park, which she called “disgusting.”
Alder Joan Joss, whose district includes the park, called Tuesday’s vote the most difficult she has had to make in 20 years on the council. She said the city was promised the “sun, earth, and moon” by Reeves but once again found themselves disappointed.
Residents of the park have also expressed frustration with the way their home has been managed. Many have complained that they can’t get a hold of management to schedule maintenance work on the units. Some have said that Reeves has held on to rent checks for weeks, sometimes not cashing them at all.
The park has had a history of health department and building violations that have left residents living in unsafe conditions. Some of those issues date back to 2016, which is when the park first came to the city’s attention. New management had promised to fix those defects quickly in late 2018.
Alders said given that history and a lack of clear communication with Reeves it’s now impossible to think the situation will improve.
In mid-2020 the park owed both the city and county tens of thousands of dollars in past-due taxes, water bills, and other expenses associated with clearing out a handful of trailers deemed uninhabitable. That money was eventually paid, even though at the time the park was operating without a license, leading to the legal action that’s currently pending between the city and park management.
Hazelbaker said while he has to work for what is in his client’s best interest, he would understand if Alders voted to not issue the license given the history of issues with the park. He did make a long-shot request for a short-term license to allow more time for issues to be resolved, but Alders made it clear that wouldn’t happen.
Mayor Hoehn also felt that the park has been given enough chances under multiple ownership groups. “We were lied to as far as what was going to happen [in 2018] when we gave them a license with conditions. None of the conditions were really met. We kept them through 2019 with that license, then come 2020 and they didn’t even apply for another one.
“Again, total disrespect for the city and its ordinances and rules,” added Hoehn.
The motion to not issue the licenses was made by Alder Scott Dunst. Andrew Brown seconded, then all eight Alders voted in favor.
Joss paused for several seconds before announcing her yes vote.
The Council did not set a move out date for the residents still living in the park. Due to continuing litigation between the city and the park’s owner, a judge will have to make that call. The next court hearing in the case is January 20th.
Hoehn says the city has compiled some resources for residents of the park who will likely be displaced later this year. More on that will be made available to those residents following Marathon County Judge Michael Moran’s decision.
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