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Residents of Lindstrom's Elms Estates met Wednesday July 15 for an update about their pending relocation.  Owner Rosita Meehan had planned to vacate the property two years ago with the hopes of selling the property.  Residents were given a two year notice to either move their park models or vacate.  Currently there are 15 homes remaining. Because of various circumstances the evacuation date has been extended and a meeting was called by the city to inform residents about potential financial help available.  

Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund was established in 2007 to help situations such as the Elms.  

The fund is to provide manufactured (mobile) home owners with reasonable relocation compensation in the event that all or part of their park closes due to private redevelopment.  Elms Estates residents have paid $15 per month into the fund since its inception.
  Meehan told the residents she has rough estimates for moving and for demolition.  To move a mobile home the cost is roughly $8250 and cost of razing a mobile home ranges from $3,500 to $7,000.  Meehan said she would be demolishing "Number 2" trailer this week and would share the cost so residents would have an idea.

Meehan told the residents that one year from September 21, there will be bare ground where the dwellings are now.

Meehan told the residents "We need to help each other, the park has been here for 60 years, we are family."

City Administrator John Olinger told the residents the city's responsibility will be to represent the park residents.  Olinger said within 90 days of relieveing a Notice of Closure, the city must hold a public hearing to discuss the closure.  The city must then appoint a third party moderator to represent residents.  The moderator will also be in charge of controlling the money from the Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund.  

A few residents have already left and a few more are moving in  the near future. They had questions about receiving funding because they have left prior.

Scott Lund who recently sold Shafer Terrace Mobile Home Park in Shafer spoke to the crowd.  Lund who is familiar with the relocation fund, said there is a $2 million cap per park; the last time he used the fund the payout was something like $8,000 for single wide trailers and $12,000 for double wide trailers.  Lund said payments come less than 45 days after submittal by trailer owner.
After hearing this, Olinger said he would try to move the public hearing up if possible.   After the Lindstrom City Council held their meeting the following night, an August 4 public hearing was scheduled at City Hall at 7 p.m.

A few residents voiced concerns about leaving vacant trailers if they found their next home.  Olinger told them he would ask Lakes Area Police to provide extra presence.  

Lund told Olinger and the residents that it would be prudent to already have a moderator agreed upon and at the same meeting they would be designated to move the process along.  

Lund then gave residents a bit of good news.  He said if they chose to vacate their homes the cost of demolition would not be their responsibility.  He did add that may affect their relocation pay-outs. That was good news for residents who thought they would have to pay for demolition if they vacate.

Olinger said the city would like to see a redevelopment multi-level construction and floor level offices for service oriented businesses. This would free up spots for more retail downtown. "We would like to see downtown Lindstrom become a "boutique downtown."  Olinger said the city would like to see housing on the upper floors of the new development.

The meeting ended with Meehan telling residents to "Pray our water and sewer infrastructure holds up through the winter" until people move.

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