Council gives Buena Vista mobile-home owner 30 days to remove structure; postpones wider dilapidated-building hearings to Nov. 6

The New Iberia City Council voted to give the owner of a dilapidated mobile home at 107/111 Buena Vista Drive 30 days to remove the structure at the owner's expense or the city will commence demolition and recover costs. Councilwoman Brooke Marcotte moved the action after staff described a trailer and chassis that have been vacant, unsecured and a repeated source of neighbor complaints for several years.

Staff said the mobile homeowner is assessed in another name and that the assessed property owner is Shelley Norris, care of John Dortez. The owner reportedly told staff he would not invest in repairs. Council members discussed alternatives — including moving the structure or using the city's demolition grant program — and agreed the 30‑day notice will give the owner a final opportunity to act.

Separately, the council voted to postpone a public hearing on a broader list of dilapidated and dangerous buildings because several owners could not be notified in time or their status (including death or arrest) required more time for the city's appointed-attorney process. The postponement moved those hearings to Nov. 6, 2024.

Why this matters: Blighted and unsecured structures can create public-safety, public-health and neighborhood‑quality‑of‑life problems. The council’s actions aim to clear immediate hazards while managing due-process and notice obligations.

Next steps: Staff will monitor the Buena Vista property for compliance; if the owner does not remove or repair the structure within 30 days, the city will begin demolition and pursue cost recovery. The council will reconvene the postponed dilapidated-building hearings Nov. 6.