Hidden Lakes Estates mobile home park in Schofield. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A Marathon County Judge has ruled that the City of Schofield was justified in voting to not issue an operating license to Sustainable Resources LLC for the Hidden Lakes Estates Mobile Home Park on Grand Avenue, meaning a final move-out date for residents of the long-troubled will soon be set.
“I feel bad for the people who have been there a long time and have tried hard to do the right thing, but it’s for the best overall,” said City Council President and District 2 Alder Joan Joss, whose district does include the park. “We have won this decision and it is what’s best for the City of Schofield.”
She says that’s because conditions in the park have further deteriorated as Wyoming-based Sustainable Resources LLC ignored even basic maintenance tasks such as garbage removal. “There’s a dumpster that hasn’t been emptied in months, so there’s a rodent problem. [Some squatters] are going into the empty trailers at night looking for places to stay.
“The residents have no one to go to, no one to speak for them. That’s the really unfortunate part,” added Joss.
Judge Michael Moran said it was not the court’s job to step in and make a ruling for the two parties. Instead, he noted that the city had taken appropriate action. He added that in cases like this, it’s the petitioner’s job to overcome the “presumption of correctness” by the city’s decision.
Moran also said he was taken back by the use of expletives directed at the council in an email regarding a hearing date in the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It struck this court as being a bit tone deaf.”
City leaders including City Attorney Shane VanderWaal will now work out the details of how the remaining residents will be removed from the park. No timeline for a final removal date was immediately set, but the court noted there would be another hearing in the matter shortly. That will likely be used to issue a notice of between 30 and 90 days for residents to vacate.
Joss adds that Public Works Director Mark Thuot will compile resources for those who are still in the park at that time regarding affordable housing options in the area along with other options to help them land on their feet.
“I think they (residents) were anticipating this. Some regretfully, some not caring- but I think they kind of knew this was coming,” added Joss.
The park has been plagued by issues for the last five years and under multiple owners. In 2018 a report showed over 250 violations in the park which caused the city to hold a hearing that ended with alders voting to pull their operating license. New owners stepped in and did begin cleaning up many of those violations, leading to the council granting a license for 2019.
RELATED: License Issued to Schofield Mobile Home Park
The most recent issues with Sustainable Resources came into play in 2020 when the group failed to apply for an operating license until late in the year. The group also failed to pay tens of thousands of dollars in taxes, water bills, and fees associated with tearing down multiple units in the park. Those bills were eventually paid.
Earlier this year the city council voted 8-0 to not issue the group a license for the park for 2021 along with a back-dated license for 2020.
RELATED: No Operating License for Troubled Schofield Mobile Home Park
Joss has maintained that the vote to not issue those licenses in January is the toughest decision she has ever made as an Alderperson. She makes weekly visits to residents in the park and has brought them food in times of need as well.
“[Monday’s decision] is a win for the city but it’s a loss for the residents,” she said.
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