Mobile Home Removed After Five Year Battle
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 22 February 2024 16:57
- Written by Norm Murphy
WEST BURKE - Over the past five years the town of Burke had been pleading with a homeowner to comply with building codes regarding the home's sewage system. Mike Harris, the town zoning administrator, had cited Howard Bailey for having his septic tank not up to code and the sewage was emptying out through a pipe on the backside of the property, which is located on Route 5 in West Burke.
Harris worked to get Mr. Bailey the assistance that he needed to have the work done on the septic system. He went as far as filling out the necessary forms for Mr. Bailey to take and file for monetary assistance through the state. Mr. Bailey ignored the offered help and kept procrastinating on having his tank become compliant with building codes. The town of Burke had no other options to deal with this matter that was focused on for years but to take the matter to court. The court ordered to have Mr. Bailey remove the mobile home from the property with a deadline to do so on 13 February, 2024.
On the morning of that day, the home still remained on the property. At approximately 08:30 a.m., the sheriff's department showed up at the home to escort any persons off the property and to secure the site for a removal crew to come in and take the trailer off the property. No members of the Bailey family were there at that time. The town had contracted a crew of workers to remove the home.
The power company arrived to shut off the electical service to the property while workers prepared the home for removal. Fuel lines for the heating oil were disconnected, as well as the plumbing from underneath the home. The property had significant amounts of trash, garbage, and junk surrounding the home. Multiple dumpsters were filled up and hauled away throughout the morning hours. As junk was being hauled off, workers removed the trailer's skirting and took off the tires for inspection for roadworthiness. Th etires were placed back on the trailer once they were deemed safe to be used during towing. Th etow hitch was also inspected to ensure that it worked properly.
Shortly before noon, a special tow truck arrived that would haul the home away from the property. Within fifteen minutes of arriving at the property, the truck hooked up to the home and pulled forward to test how well the trailer would roll out of the spot where it had been sitting for years. Everything worked out well and the mobile home left the property moments later. The workers remained on site to continue removing junk from the property.
The town of Burke is in the process of acquiring the property. Mr. Bailey owes a considerable amount of money from previous work that had been done at the property, specifically junk removal that the town had to do in the past. The price tag for the removal of the home and the junk that was scattered around the property was added to the already sizeable bill. Clearly, Mr. Bailey does not have the means to pay such a bill. The town is working with the court to eventually become the new owner of the property. Once that happens, the town will look to sell it off in the hope to regain the dollars that were spent by the town on this property. Until that happens, the property will sit empty.
