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Residents describe leaking roofs, no water and rodents at Maple Fields trailer park; city says building official engaged
Summary
Several residents told the Hermantown City Council on Dec. 16 that persistent, unresolved maintenance failures at the Maple Fields trailer park have left families without hot water, with leaking roofs and holes that let animals into homes. City staff said the building official and city attorney are working on the complaints and advised residents to seek legal advocacy.
Several residents of the Maple Fields trailer park gave emotional public comments to the Hermantown City Council on Dec. 16, describing long‑running housing problems they say the park owner has not fixed.
Andy Grama, who identified his address as 4945 Sarah Lane, said chronic failures include missing appliances at move‑in, repeated outages of hot water and structural defects. "We've had over 30 days cumulative of having no water in our unit," Grama said, and described a large hole under a bathtub that allowed neighborhood animals to enter. He said delayed repairs and a lack of communication from management have taken a toll on residents' mental health.
Amy O'Donnell (4941 Jamie Lee Drive) told the council her family has lived with bedroom roof leaks, a window leak that drips onto a power outlet and a hole in the floor. "My roof in my bedroom is currently leaking," O'Donnell said. She said flooding forced her household to sleep elsewhere for seven days and caused her children to miss school.
Hudson Hiller (4939 James Drive) described uncompleted repairs, loose carpeting and skirting with holes that let animals in. "It's been horrible," Hiller said, asking the council to compel change. Janelle LaVold (4939 Sarah Lane) said a four‑year‑old in her household cannot use her bedroom because it "is leaking like a faucet through that window."
City staff responded that the building official and the city attorney have been engaged with the situation. City Administrator Mr. Mulder told the council the building official has been "working with you and our attorney," and staff suggested residents consult a legal advocate at Justice North to consider additional options. Mulder and attendees did not specify a timeline for corrective action.
Council members did not take formal action at the meeting; public comment was part of the regular public discussion portion of the agenda. Residents repeatedly said they feared retaliation from the property owner for complaining and asked the city for help enforcing code or supporting tenant advocacy. The council closed the public comment period after the speakers finished.
The transcript and staff remarks show the city is aware of these individual complaints and that building‑code and legal staff have been involved; the outcome and any enforcement steps were not recorded during this meeting.
