Edgewater commenter urges Sawyer County to explore mobile home park inspections and homelessness services

During public comment at the Sawyer County administrative meeting, Edgewater property owner Linda Zilmer urged supervisors to examine mobile home parks as a housing option and to consider county authority to inspect parks and address homelessness.

Zilmer said a zoning committee recently considered whether park-model RVs can be placed in mobile home parks and that a Wisconsin Watch article on mobile home parks in the state informed her concern. She recommended the county investigate becoming a state-designated agent with the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to inspect mobile home parks.

She also urged the county to look at homelessness responses, suggesting faith groups and mobile home park options be considered as part of housing solutions. Zilmer said she emailed supervisors with supporting material and asked the county to include mobile home parks and homelessness in housing strategy discussions.

Why it matters: mobile home parks and park-model RVs are a common source of affordable housing; local inspection and oversight can affect habitability and safety. Zilmer’s suggestion that Sawyer County become a DSPS agent would change how inspections are conducted, but the meeting included no formal action on the recommendation.

Ending Supervisors took Zilmer’s comments under advisement; no formal action or policy change was initiated during the meeting.