WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Marathon County Judge Michael Moran has set the next hearing date in the case between the City of Schofield and Sustainable Resources LLC, owners and operators of the Hidden Lakes Estates mobile home park.
Representatives from the city and Sustainable Resources will return to court on September 7th at 9 AM for the hearing, which could begin the final countdown clock for residents to vacate the unlicensed property. Action that day will come just over one month after Judge Michael Moran announced he was siding with the city in the case, saying the owners of the park had failed to topple the “presumption of correctness” of the city’s decision to not issue two year’s worth of operating licenses for the facility.
Schofield City Council President Joan Joss had previously said that the next court date could be used to start a 60 or 90-day move-out period for residents before the park is forced to close for good. She added that the goal would be to get residents out before winter sets in.
Joss adds that many residents have already been preparing to move out or have already vacated. Those that haven’t will be given resources from the city such as listings for nearby affordable housing or parks with vacancies.
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The park has long been plagued by issues over the last five years including a laundry list of maintenance problems and homes that have been left to deteriorate. In recent months management has also failed to tend to basic items such as garbage removal, leading to a rodent problem in the park.
Joss has noted that squatters have come in and taken over some vacant trailers as well.
