Supervisors set age limit on mobile homes

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors renewed discussion of setting age limits on mobile homes that can be moved into the county or within the county.

They are encouraging people to buy houses which retain their value and therefore support the tax base.

The zoning board recommended doublewides not be moved from outside the county or within the county if they are over eight years old. Singlewides would be limited to five years old.

District 4 supervisor George Zinn III recommended the limit be set at five years across the board.

District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett sought clarity on the issue.

He said the mobile home is not even paid for in five years.

“What you are saying is if it is over five years old, you can’t move it to another lot on a place,” he said. “Lots of kids move a trailer on their parents’ place, then get married and build them a home. You are not going to get it (the mobile home) paid for in 20 years.”

He said an eight-year-old unit could leave the county.

“We’re trying to fix it where they can get their money out of it rather than let it sit out there and rot and be filled up with junk (used for storage),” Bennett said.

“So the true value on it will be nothing after eight years,” Zinn said.

Zoning director Ken Jones said the board of supervisors decided in 2018 to not allow any more used mobile homes coming into the county.

“I think that’s too strict,” he said. “Then the board unvoted a few weeks later.” District 1 supervisor Charles Terry said a person can live in it eight years, and they may have an opportunity to sell it to someone living in the county.

“I think eight years is OK,” he said. “I don’t want to bring somebody else’s trouble into the county and move it up and down the road.”

“I think it works against our goal of more houses,” Zinn said.

“You get a doublewide and your payments are going to be about $800 a month,” Bennett said. “Do you want houses where you can spit on the next house (high density housing)? We need to consider relaxing on lot lines so we can build more houses.”

County administrator Larry Hall said the county would collect more taxes per acre with smaller lots.

“You can pass the mower down between the house and you are on somebody else’s land,” Terry said.

Bennett said these smaller lots could serve as a starter house spot for a homebuyer.

“It will work as long as the board sets standards of upkeep,” Bennett said.

Discussion concluded, Bennett made a motion to limit all mobile homes over eight years old from being moved.

The motion was amended to go into effect July 1.

Terry, Eddie Dixon and Bennett voted for the measure. Zinn voted against it.

Dumping

Zinn reported lots of used tires have been dumped in a creek on McAuley Road. He asked what the Department of Environmental Quality says about enforcement. “It is hard to get any help,” Jones said. “You have to catch them dumping first. People don’t know they can put stuff beside their garbage can and Team Waste will pick it up (mattresses and old furniture and appliances).”

Fairgrounds/community centers

Jones said people are calling wanting to use the fairgrounds.

Bennett made a motion to let the fairgrounds open back up.

“You still have to go by the state rules,” he said.

“We will open it up and start booking (events),” Jones said.

“The capacity (number allowed in the facility) and distancing will still have to be done,” Bennett said.

Supervisors approved a motion by Bennett to reopen for events.

Jones said a meeting with event holders has been set and there will be a drawing for promoters to set the dates.

“After that we can proceed,” he said.

Zinn asked if the board wants to reopen the community centers.

“I think we can,” Bennett said.

Terry said he is concerned that community centers are small and enclosed.

The board approved a motion by Bennett to open the community centers.

Supervisors’ report

Dixon said someone is shooting guns near H.W. Byers School. It is against the law to discharge a gun within a mile of a school, he said.

“They want enforcement,” Dixon said of the school district.

Zinn suggested attorney Amanda Smith look into the regulations.

Sheriff Kenny Dickerson said he and Smith will determine what the law is on it and report back to the board.

Dixon said he would like playground equipment to be added to a grant application for a walking trail in Mt. Pleasant.

Dixon named Clinton Pie as his district’s appointment to the 911 Commission Board. Bennett named Rodney Whaley as his appointment.

Zinn asked about $6 million coming from the federal stimulus money to each county and whether the county has to apply for it.

“Don’t get in a hurry and blow it quickly,” Larry Hall said. “We have to have a paper trail and there are strict guidelines when it comes.”

“We are not to the point of specifying line items?” Zinn asked. “Does it come straight to the county; not through the state?”

Hall said there will be some state regulations as well.

“There’s a lot more to it – a list of what it can be used for,” Hall said.

“You can’t build a bridge with it,” Bennett said.

Hall said losses the county incurred during the COVID pandemic can be recouped.

Zinn said the matter can be discussed again at the next meeting.

He then asked about outsourcing grass cutting.

“If we did it in house, we could direct them rather than contracting out the whole thing,” Zinn said.

He thanked Marshall County Beautiful for cleaning up around Isaac Chapel Community Center. He asked when no loitering and littering signs would be put up at the location.

“Immediately,” Hall said. Engineer’s report

County engineer Larry Britt discussed county work to clear some strips on Tribble Road as an in-kind contribution to a grant for Springs Industrial Park.

Hall said the county needs the deeds before doing the work.

The county would widen the rights-of-way and lay back gullies and banks, Hall said.

“We don’t need right-of-way on Tribble Road but where it ends at the West Holly Springs exit,” Britt said.