Legislators propose bills to help Billings mobile home residents

Residents on the Meadowlark cellular house park in Billings proceed to have soiled water, a boil order is in impact, they’ve had frozen and damaged pipes, and the water has been shut down.

And now within the Montana Legislature, lawmakers have proposed payments they hope may assist in the long term.

Final month’s historic chilly snap in Montana introduced extra issues to this Billings cellular house park.

About 20 pipes broke on the finish of the yr.

“Greatest factor is simply the water shut offs, and, you already know, not having water and it being turned off all night time. Has induced a number of stress out right here for lots of people,” mentioned Gary Deveraux, a Meadowlark resident.

Devereaux says it is the worst he has seen. The soiled water has been a problem for not less than the final two years. And now he says crews are searching for a damaged water primary.

“At worst, it has induced large injury all through the park to their strains in our strains,” Deveraux mentioned.

However Deveraux and different residents are hopeful assistance is on the horizon thanks to 2 new payments being launched by lawmakers in Helena. One offers with leasing.

“Size of leases from one month to 1 yr prohibiting the owner from requiring a tenant to make pointless upgrades,” mentioned Rep. Mike Yakawich, R-Billings.

The opposite invoice would give trailer park residents the chance to purchase their cellular house parks.

“Which might require cellular house park homeowners after they go to promote their communities to offer residents a 60-day discover and the residents would get a possibility to not less than present a proposal,” mentioned Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Nice Falls.

Nikolakakos owns and has offered cellular house parks. He and Yakawich say the proposed laws is geared toward being truthful for each residents and property homeowners.

“Constituents are searching for a little bit little bit of assist,” Yakawich mentioned. “This sort of deal will encourage them. However we’re making an attempt to work on this to not infringe or to over-regulate the homeowners of the trailer park, however to attempt to discover some frequent floor. “

However Deveraux has seen comparable payments fail in earlier legislative periods.

He has considerations however he is hopeful.

“I actually hope that they step up this time and provides us a possibility right here,” Deveraux mentioned.

Josh Weiss, a spokesman for Havenpark Communities, which owns Meadowlark, says the corporate is optimistic towards laws however must know the particular language earlier than it could help a invoice.

He additionally tells MTN Information that it has put in new media filters and new tanks. Assessments have proven clear water, and administration hopes this solves the issue, he mentioned.

Residents didn’t point out being conscious of the brand new tools.

As for the damaged pipes, Weiss mentioned Havenpark is chargeable for underground pipes and residents are chargeable for above-ground pipes.