Southbrook owner gets final warning

• Given 30 more days for mobile home park cleanup

BROOKINGS – The owner of a mobile home park in rural Brookings got a final warning from the county commission this week: “Clean it up, or we will.”

A citizen’s complaint in April sparked a commission investigation of the Southbrook Estates mobile home park, which is located on South Main Avenue just beyond city limits.

The park was littered with debris, abandoned trailers and appliances, and the commissioners ordered enforcement of the county’s public nuisance ordinance.

Southbrook owner Kelly Koenig has made significant progress in the cleanup, County Zoning Director Bob Hill reported to the commissioners Tuesday.

But apparently not enough.

Recent photos show garbage bags piled in a court and trash-strewn yards.

Koenig had been given a 30-day order previously, but because he had been doing some of the cleanup, he was allowed to go beyond the original schedule set by the county.

It was clear the commissioners’ patience is wearing thin.

“Some things need to get done,” Commissioner Dennis Falken said this week, and he instructed Hill to give the park owner written notice for 30 days. When the matter was first brought to the commission’s attention, Falken and Commissioner Alan Gregg made a personal inspection visit to the park and discussed the county’s concerns with the owner.

“We’ve given him a chance, and we’re putting it in writing,” Falken said.

Now, if compliance with the cleanup order is not satisfactory, the county will hire the work done by a private concern. The cost will be billed to the owner, or the county could put a lien on the property.

In fairness to Koenig, some of the abandoned mobile homes do not belong to him but to other parties. Presumably, those property owners will also get a written, 30-day notice from the county.



Contact Ken Curley at kcurley-@brookingsregister.com.