Point Marion council asked to condemn mobile home
POINT MARION – Residents want the borough council to condemn a mobile home located on property bordering Sadler and Freeling streets. During a meeting Wednesday, residents said that the mobile home is an eyesore, and they claim that it depreciates the value of their property.
A borough man wheeled the rusted mobile home on the property about three weeks ago and set it up on cement blocks, and it has remained that way ever since, said Carol Morgan, a concerned resident.
Morgan, who lives a half-block from the mobile home, described it as being old and in terrible condition. “I can’t believe he wasn’t ashamed to pull it onto the property,” she said. “It’s a disgrace.”
Jim Moats lives across from the mobile home.
“I’ve been working on my house since my family moved in last Christmas,” said Moats. “Why should I invest in my house if I’m going to have that in my back yard,” he said.
The council members said that they understand the residents’ complaints, and they promised to look into the matter.
Solicitor Gene Grimm said the borough can condemn the structure if it can prove that the home endangers the health, safety and wellness of its potential inhabitants or community members. However, the borough has not inspected the home.
Grimm said the borough would treat the mobile home as any other structure designed for habitation within the community, and all structures must comply with borough ordinances. Point Marion has adopted the BOCA code, which sets housing standards that must be maintained, he said.
The borough cannot keep mobile homes from moving into Point Marion, said Grimm, adding that the man has a right to put the home on the property, as long he abides by all county and borough ordinances.
Before adjourning, the council also discussed the possibility of buying a new spreader for the borough road-maintenance truck.
Councilman Mike Costa said borough road crews have reported delays in cleaning the roads because of problems with the spreader.
“I don’t know if it will last for the rest of this winter,” he said. Costa priced different spreaders and said that one would cost the borough about $3,500.
The council decided to see if the spreader could be fixed before purchasing another one.
The board also reappointed Bob Daugherty as treasurer, Art Strimel as secretary and Grimm as solicitor after returning from a brief executive session for personnel reasons and potential litigation.