Trail condemnations upheld

An appeals board says an inspector was correct when he ruled most of the structures were unsafe.

BY SELINA ROMÁN

BRADENTON -- A construction appeals board said a county building official who tagged trailers for repair

and demolition acted properly, though he didn't give residents enough notice.

Members of the Manatee County Construction Board of Appeals unanimously upheld George Devenport's

rulings that most of the trailers at Trail Motel and Mobile Home Park were unsafe.

Devenport told the board he "mentally defaulted" back to a previous code which gave residents only

30 days to make repairs, instead of the 60 days currently allowed.

"It was not our intention to shortcut anyone," Devenport said.

The board members said the mistake wasn't crucial because the county granted residents more

time earlier this year.

Two residents of the park told the board during a six-hour hearing Friday about their fruitless efforts at

finding another place to live. The board agreed to give them more time to fix their trailers, or at least to

find someplace else.

"I feel a little relaxed," said resident David Madrid, who owns five trailers, two of which are set to be

demolished.

About three dozen others who live in the park -- some of whom owned their mobile homes -- dropped their

appeals so they could take part in a recently approved county relocation program.

But Madrid and another resident, Jose País, who own their trailers, didn't qualify for the program, which

put people in rental units.

Madrid said he couldn't imagine paying rent. He's used to owning his home and enjoys trailer park living.

"My income isn't enough (to rent)," Madrid said. "But a (trailer) would be mine."
 

For those reasons, Madrid wasn't interested in the county's emergency relocation funds.

He wanted more time to find a home he could buy.

Until this week, the relocation funds could be used only to rent apartments or duplexes, but Cheri Coryea,

a manager with Manatee County Community Services, said the rules had been changed so that people who

lease to own trailers can also qualify for assistance.

Charles Elsesser, an attorney representing País and Madrid, said the changes offer his clients hope.

"That will go a long way toward resolving those problems," Elsesser said. "The county has done a lot,

but even with all the help, people are still hurting."

The hearing signals the park's last days. The county has already advertised for demolition bids. And residents

continue to leave as squatters move in, and shootings, stabbings and drug dealing have become more frequent.

Devenport declined to say when demolition is scheduled to begin.