Schmanke’s request for voluntary annexation of Rolling Homes park receives public hearing

By Dave Marner, Managing Editor
Posted 5/6/21

Paul Schmanke, a former local high school teacher and coach turned lawyer, is one step closer to having a mobile home park he purchased in February become part of the city of Owensville through …

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Schmanke’s request for voluntary annexation of Rolling Homes park receives public hearing

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Paul Schmanke, a former local high school teacher and coach turned lawyer, is one step closer to having a mobile home park he purchased in February become part of the city of Owensville through voluntary annexation following a public hearing Monday.

Schmanke previously received a positive recommendation on his request to annex the Rolling Homes trailer park from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission with certain caveats. He will agree to upgrade the park’s water lines within a year before the city will take over the 11.6-acre tract of land which is accessed off of South Second at Jackson.

P&Z members made their recommendation during a March 29 session to require Schmanke to install 6-inch water lines to create a looped circuit between Cuba Street and South Fourth Street.

The city’s P&Z group did not, however, recommend the city take over maintenance of the streets within the park. According to the commission’s recording secretary, Schmanke will be responsible for upkeep and snow removal on the park’s roads which will remain “private drives.”

Owensville’s Board of Aldermen will prepare an ordinance for consideration and likely final approval at their Monday, May 17, meeting. Once approved, Schmanke will have one year to upgrade the water lines in the park to city standards.

He told aldermen he anticipates spending $50,000 to $70,000 on improvements to the infrastructure in the park which currently has 20 of the 31 lots occupied with mobile homes. He said he hopes to recover his costs on improvements over a four to five-year period through tenant rentals “which is typical.”

Thirteen tenants own their own units and pay pad rentals while Schmanke told aldermen he owns seven of the units. He told aldermen he is working through the legal system to lawfully evict any squatters who inhabit units in the park. He said he wants to keep the park “looking respectable” and wants to upgrade the water lines to increase the public safety of his tenants.

“I just ask that other (rental) property owners do the same,” he told city officials.

Ron Schuenemeyer, who owns the house and property adjoining the entrance to the park, expressed concerns about the noise from late-night and early-morning traffic in and out of the park. He suggested Schmanke would be a good neighbor if he moved the entrance over off South Fourth Street. A wall along his property has been hit multiple times, he said.

“It’s dangerous,” Schuenemeyer said. “Put it over on Fourth Street.”

While Schmanke wouldn’t commit to relocation the entry drive, he gave a brief overview of what he has done since taking over ownership earlier this year.

He has filed for five evictions and removed two of the problem renters already. He expects more evictions to take place by June after the 60-day notices have been in place the required length of time.

“I want you to have a neighbor who doesn’t cause you problems, who doesn’t come down Second Street like you said,” Schmanke told Schuenemeyer. He said he wanted to attract renters who would be “respectful to the park and people like you.”

“There’s a lot of drug people over there. A lot of undesirables,” Schuenemeyer add.

“True,” said Schmanke but he had to follow the law in having them removed. “I appreciate your thoughts and concerns,” Schmanke added. “I’ll take that into consideration.”

Once the park is annexed by ordinance, Schmanke will no longer be paying a double water and sewer rate on each rental pad. A waiting period of 14 days from the public hearing to the approval of the annexation by ordinance is required, according to city staff.