I greatly appreciate the story Reid Magney wrote concerning the Golden Valley Mobile Home Park. I want to briefly clarify some things, however. I was the person who originally found the water to be unsafe in June and August 2007, and I was the person who pushed the DNR and the owner into further testing of the water. We have had consistent contact with the park’s certified operator and every DNR official involved, so we are well aware of the process. The original well was condemned in October 2007; the reason the DNR Enforcement Division became involved in January 2008 was because of the park owner’s foot-dragging in submitting competent plans for a new well. Although the new well house is nearly constructed, the water sample results will not be back for several weeks after the DNR’s

June 1 deadline to have the well online.
In January 2007, the park itself, not a portion of it, was designated as the “unauthorized junk yard.” This year’s citations include conditions created and/or maintained by the owner and it was tenants, not the owner, who asked for the inspections. Even though our homes right now have no financial value because of the water situation, we, like everyone else, deserve a decent place to reside. It appears clear that there had been no investment in the park for 28 years, but there is a breach of the implied “warranty of habitability.” And yet we are expected to continue paying our rent in full and on time.

 

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