Residents warn commissioners of deteriorating conditions, squatters at Sandy Ridge Trailer Park
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Summary
A resident said squatters, trash, utility tapping, and lack of management at Sandy Ridge Trailer Park are harming surrounding neighborhoods; commissioners said county has removed more than 20 vacant trailers previously and acknowledged legal limits but pledged continued action.
James Odell Purefaway, who gave his address as 252 Keener Avenue, told the Craven County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 5 that conditions at the nearby Sandy Ridge Trailer Park (250 Keener Ave) have deteriorated, with squatters, repeated trash accumulation, tampering with water and communication lines, and minimal on‑site management.
"We've got a bad issue going on out there with squatters, trash," Purefaway said. He told commissioners the county had cleaned the site twice but trash reappeared within weeks and said only about 11 park residents were paying for water. He reported the property owner was heavily delinquent in taxes and that the site was in foreclosure or pending sale.
Commissioners acknowledged prior county action: the county had removed more than 20 vacant trailers at county expense in earlier enforcement work and staff continue to monitor the site, but officials said more significant action (for example, clearing occupied trailers) requires court orders. Chairman Bucher said the board would "stick with us" on the issue and pursue the available processes.
The complaint prompted discussion of enforcement limits, public safety concerns (overdoses and law‑enforcement presence were mentioned), and next steps; specific remedies and timelines were not established at the meeting.