Cumberland City staff send certified letters over campers, request owner meetings; legal action possible

At the Nov. 7 meeting staff reported certified letters were delivered to property owners, including the Mullins property on Highway 434, requesting they appear before the board on Jan. 2 to discuss rezoning or removal of campers. The speaker said the Mullins parcel is currently zoned agricultural but that the water department lists it as residential, and that having campers and that zoning together is not permitted.

Recorder Mathis said the city first intends to invite owners to discuss options in person; if owners do not appear or decline to comply, staff will ask Miss Markley (counsel) to prepare legal notices and set deadlines and possible fines. Mathis said he had sent certified letters and retained proof of delivery and asked staff to keep refusal receipts as evidence if owners decline to pick up certified mail.

Council discussion reaffirmed that the board will give owners an opportunity to appear at the Jan. 2 meeting before pursuing legal enforcement. The board did not take a formal enforcement vote at the meeting; the item was discussed and letters were confirmed as sent.