Marathon County discusses up to $1.143 million to abate health hazards at Schofield mobile home park

Marathon County supervisors reviewed a proposal on Feb. 13 to fund remediation of human health hazards at the former Northern Mobile Home Park in the city of Schofield.

Supervisor Michael Robinson introduced the item as a long‑standing public‑health and code‑compliance matter the county has pursued with the city of Schofield. Robinson said the property had been closed because of code violations and that the county’s health department found continuing hazards including asbestos, rodent infestations and human waste. He said the county had conducted an asbestos study and planned to remove mobile homes and abate hazards.

Robinson said the county proposes to use contingency funds to pay “$224,000 and up to $1,143,000” to abate hazards, then place a special assessment on the property so the county could recover those costs if it takes title and sells the parcel after tax‑foreclosure. Robinson said the property is tax‑delinquent and could be taken through tax deed if arrears are not paid by March 1.

Michael Purner, the county’s court counsel, described the legal background: the county previously sought and obtained a court order requiring the owner to remediate the property; the owner failed to comply; the court’s order allows the county to enter and abate the hazards and to seek recovery of costs through special assessments, tax‑sale proceeds, civil collection actions or other collection tools.

Supervisors sought clarity on the county’s exposure and the property’s value. County staff said the parcel totals about 7.4 acres and showed an estimated fair market value on the current tax slip of roughly $1,161,500. Staff also said utilities would be disconnected and the mobile homes removed; the county does not expect salvage value in the on‑site units and is focusing recovery on the underlying real estate.

Supervisors stressed the county was using statutory standards for a human‑health hazard, which generally require an imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm before court‑ordered abatement is permitted. Corp. counsel confirmed that threshold and outlined the county’s “toolbox” for cost recovery.

The resolution discussed (resolution R‑6‑25) includes a budget amendment and therefore requires a two‑thirds majority to approve. The Feb. 13 meeting record contains discussion and questions from supervisors but does not record a final board vote on the resolution in the transcript excerpt provided.

No additional procedural actions (such as a motion, roll‑call tally or amendment) on R‑6‑25 appear in the recorded portion of the meeting provided.