WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsTrailer park trouble

Trailer park trouble

by Jessica Sirls

WESTON (WAOW) --  A complaint to the Village of Weston means over a hundred families could lose their homes.

That's because the landowners of their mobile home park may not get their license renewed.

Everest Metro police say problems have been brewing at Green Acres Mobile Home Park for the past three years, and now it's time for something to be done.

A meeting tonight was the chance for all sides to voice their concerns.

Viola Nelson has called her trailer in the Village of Weston home for the past 18 years, and she's as rooted to her spot at the Green Aces Mobile Home Park as the flowers in her garden.

Nelson says, "I love my home.  I love my trailer.  I love my yard.  I love the beautiful violet patch behind it."

But now, because of a complaint submitted to the Village, her landlord's license may not be renewed, which means she and about 100 other families could be uprooted.

Nelson says, "I just don't want to move, it's devastating for me, terribly devastating and I don't have the money to begin with.  I have a very small income and it barely stretches to the end of the month the way it is, but I would not know where to go."

At a meeting Monday night, Police Chief Dan Vergin said crime in the Green Acres Mobile Home Park is out of control.

He says the park has been averaging about 100 complaint calls per month.

Vergin says, "For most years I would say it's been fairly consistent.  Green Acres Park has been a place where law enforcement has spent a lot of our resources over the years."

Vergin is encouraging the Village board to take action, and Weston's building inspector is backing him on it, claiming the park is unsafe and unsanitary.

According to the complaint, managers also owe more than 40-thousand dollars in back taxes.

But the landlord's lawyer says they've been unfairly held accountable for their tenants actions.

So Village leaders say coming up with a solution will be tough.

Village Administrator Dean Zuleger says, "Whatever decision the Village Board makes we'll make sure everyone is taken care of in that park, whether they own or rent."

A decision isn't expected to be made for about another week.

Until then, Green Acres residents don't know where they, or their homes, stand.

Nelson says, "Where are these people going to go?  There is no place to go."

This issue is even more complicated because many of these trailer homes don't meet qualifications to move to another park.

Online Reporter: Jessica Sirls