Whitfield County still considering mobile home restrictions

Published 7:04 pm Friday, August 15, 2008

Are mobile homes like fine wine, aging well over time? Or are they like milk, spoiling over time?

Those are questions the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners is wrestling with.

Last month, commissioners voted 3-0 to postpone for 30 days the first reading of a resolution that would reduce the age of mobile homes allowed to enter the county to five years or newer, while also limiting the age of units that may be moved around the county to 10 years or newer. The current ordinance allows the setup of a mobile home 32 years or newer.

That 30-day time period is up, but board chairman Brian Anderson said the mobile home ordinance is not on Monday night’s work session agenda. Commissioners have not discussed the topic since the July meeting, he said. Anderson said property owners and mobile home dealers have made helpful comments about the proposal, adding he believes there is a “middle point.”

“We’ve got to do something, but we don’t have to do everything we put into the first draft,” Anderson said. “I do think we can do something, whether it be a different inspections policy or even a minimum age thing.”

County zoning administrator Jean Garland said neighboring counties have tough regulations on mobile homes. Murray County does not allow units older than five years to be brought in, while Catoosa County set its age limit at 10 years, she said. Gordon County’s age limit is 15 years.

Garland said she has prepared a report on the mobile home ordinance and given it to county administrator Bob McLeod. Garland declined to give specifics about the report, saying she wanted commissioners to hear the information from her first. McLeod was out of town on Friday and could not be reached for comment.

“He has not indicated to me that he was ready for me to discuss that with them yet,” Garland said. “As soon as he tells me they’re ready to hear that report, then I will share it at the next work session.”

So here’s where the problem arises. Some mobile home owners keep their dwellings in first class shape. But others allow their mobile homes to fall into disrepair, which can create an unsightly — and potentially dangerous — situation.

Gaile Jennings is director of the Dalton-Whitfield Community Development Corp., an agency that assists area residents with housing needs. Jennings has seen mobile homes she said aren’t suitable for living. A survey found 3,600 mobile homes in the county that were 20 years or older and were considered “substandard.”

Several commissioners are concerned limiting mobile home owners’ options could be even more problematic because of the current economic situation. Some mobile homes are financed for 20 years, but the owner doesn’t own the land. If the land the mobile home is on is sold, then the mobile home must be moved.

Commissioner Leo Whaley suggests an inspection-based program instead of age requirements, which could penalize mobile home owners who don’t take care of their dwellings. Richard Crowley, who works for Mountain View Homes in Chatsworth, has been in contact with the Georgia Manufactured Housing Association about the age limitations. He said there are programs in other states offering mobile home inspections.

Anderson said he is happy to have dialogue with all sides.

“We had not had good response from the mobile home manufacturers group prior to that meeting and we were glad the meeting (last month) energized that group to enter into the conversation with us,” Anderson said. “So the next step is to talk to them and see if we’re off base, tell us where, and what we can do better.”