CROTHERSVILLE
Jerry Boley recently asked the Crothersville Town Council about getting water turned on as soon as possible so he can hook up mobile homes.
Only two mobile homes are on the 0.60-acre property in the 200 block of North Armstrong Street, but more are expected.
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Councilman Lenvel “Butch” Robinson told Boley during a council meeting earlier this month the town has an ordinance stating mobile homes that are more than 10 years old can’t be brought in, but Boley said he understood that refers to an individual lot, not a mobile home park.
During a special meeting two days later, which Boley did not attend, town attorney Jeff Lorenzo said a decision by the Indiana Court of Appeals resulted in the state legislature eliminating the ability of communities to prohibit mobile homes based on age.
There are a lot of regulations, however, on how close the trailers can be and what their lot size has to be, Lorenzo said. Brad Bender with FPBH Inc., the town’s engineering consultant, said the state code is pretty comprehensive for mobile home parks.
Council President Danieta Foster said the last time she’s aware of a mobile home park operating on the property is 2012. At the time, Terry’s Mobile Home Park had 10 units.
Bender said if a mobile home park is abandoned and all units are gone, there is a recertification process for anyone who wants to reopen the park.
Boley told the council during the Aug. 6 meeting that he has a license through the state health department for the mobile home park and has been licensed for 40 years, but Bender said during the special meeting Aug. 8 that that doesn’t necessarily mean it has been recertified.
“When you haul them all out, it’s considered almost like starting over,” Bender said. “He might have a license from 10 years ago, but once they are all pulled out, and it doesn’t take much time, then it’s not like you can just start bringing them back.”
Bender suggested the town contact the Indiana State Department of Health’s division that deals with mobile home parks, and Lorenzo said he would do that.
Foster said she recently spoke with a woman in that office and was told the trailers can’t be inspected until there are at least five on the property.
After speaking with a local mobile home business, Robinson said he thinks the trailers that are currently sitting on the property came from Bartholomew County.
“Those homes are not allowed to be pulled down the highway because of their age,” Robinson said he learned.
“The trailers pulled in are worse than the ones that were pulled out,” Foster said, noting the ones taken away had been on the property for at least four years.
Foster suggested contacting the Jackson County Health Department to look at the trailers Boley has moved in and have Water Superintendent Chris Mains move the water meter.
“We were set to move (the water meter) and you stopped it,” Boley told the council. “I’ve already moved a trailer, so you have to go under the trailer now to move it, but I need an OK on it. I need to get the water ready. I don’t want to be sitting here in January trying to put the stuff in.”
Boley said the woman at the state health department is supposed to be sending a letter to the town.
“I will try to talk to my attorney, but I’m within the law of the trailer court,” Boley said. “I’m going to continue with what I’m doing because I am within the law.”
Boley said he just wants the cease and desist order released.
“All I’m wanting is the water turned on,” he said. “You all can hash it out later whether I’m legal or not. I am legal. I am within the code.”