Mobile Home Listings & News

Park fix moves slowly

Inspection shows progress, new woes at Richmond mobile home park
Michael_Reagan@TimesRecord.Com
03/29/2007

RICHMOND — Code Enforcement Officer Douglas Marble's weekly inspection of Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park — which has been cited for code and safety violations by both local and state regulators — resulted in a mixed report card Wednesday.

During his inspection of the Hatch Street mobile home park, Marble noted that a deck with a hole in it had been removed. But melting snow revealed junk and debris he had not seen before. Items discarded improperly on the property include a swing set and a mattress.

"He's still got about eight violations," Marble said of the park's registered agent, W. Russell Edwards Jr. of Peaks Island.

Mobile home number 14 had a new door, and what looked like a door frame lay near the steps. The gray wooden steps sagged as Marble walked up them. They were unsupported and not made of treated wood. "The whole thing doesn't meet code basically," Marble said of the stairs this morning.

Last week an inspector from the Maine Manufactured Housing Board inspected the park and found 13 new violations. Lowell M. Smith said the infractions include two abandoned propane tanks, six unsecured homes and three junk and nuisance violations.

Marble found one home with a locked door Wednesday, but he was able to unlock it after putting his hand through a broken window in the door.

When reached by phone this morning, Edwards declined to comment on Marble's latest findings and the ongoing state investigation.

Marble wrote a violation order to Edwards earlier this month detailing 10 violations, including three homes he deemed unfit for habitation. Since he sent the letter, two of the homes have been fixed and contractors are working on the third.

Repairs on the third home include installation of a new floor. Marble said in his letter to Edwards that both a tenant and furniture had fallen through the floor. Edwards has said he sent someone to fix the home but the tenant would not let that person in.

Edwards has said that a number of the mobile homes are owned by the town because of tax liens placed on them. Town Manager Thomas Fortier said that town officials will work with Edwards to remove units 13, 15 and 17 later this spring. He said that Edwards has talked with him frequently about making improvements at the park.

"He's making significant progress and we have a collaborative relationship going on now," Fortier said.

Marble said he would recommend to the selectmen that they give Edwards time to finish repairs until the town removes the mobile home and the park should then be in compliance with municipal codes.