Mobile‑home park owner and contractors pledge to fix five unsafe units at Drummond Avenue; magistrate grants 60 days

Investigators told the magistrate that a June inspection of Bayview Mobile Home Park at 2503 Drummond Avenue found five single‑wide units in unfit, unsafe condition with missing windows, collapsed flooring, exposed wiring and inadequate tie‑downs. Photographs were introduced as evidence and staff reported that some exterior cleanup (junk and appliances) had been corrected but no engineering reports or final permits had been filed for the five mobile homes.

"This single wide mobile home is brought into the park...it was signed off by a mobile home inspector prior to being moved," Inspector Scott Thorpe said, detailing interior and exterior deterioration and repeated permit corrections. Investigator Tony Bruning added that several units were not tied down, had severe wall and floor damage, and that inspectors had observed exposed Romex and other unsafe electrical conditions.

Owner Robert Huddleston, who said he purchased the park in mid‑2024 and suffered long‑COVID setbacks, introduced an assembled team that includes architect Jeff Waddell and mobile‑home repair specialist Don (Donald) Beauchaine. Waddell said he brought preliminary plans and described three priorities: improve overall park appearance, bring exteriors to code and update interiors. "We've started on drawings to fix up the individual units right now," Waddell said, adding the owner plans to demolish the worst unit (unit 3) and move another unit into its spot.

Contractor Donald Beauchaine testified he can straighten frames, block and tie down units properly and perform repairs; roofing work will be handled by a roofing contractor. Staff noted that demolition permits must be pulled by a demolition or general contractor and that change‑of‑contractor paperwork will be required if a different firm completes setup work.

Magistrate Bill Lewis reviewed prior findings and testimony and granted a 60‑day compliance window during which the respondent must apply for and obtain demolition or building permits, submit structural reports and action plans, and complete required inspections. The magistrate scheduled a compliance hearing to review progress and warned that permits that expire or become void will be treated as failures to comply. The magistrate said fines would be adjusted if compliance is not achieved and that abatement authority remains with the county.

Provenance: Topic introduced at SEG 465; extended testimony and owner presentation continued through SEG 1564.