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Hibbing council approves letter to trailer-park owner, cites 12-month notice requirement amid relocation concerns
Summary
Hibbing City Attorney presented a drafted letter warning the Forest Heights (Hibbing Village) trailer-park owner that state statute likely requires 12 months' notice before displacing residents; council approved sending the letter and copying state housing and health agencies as residents raised a possible May 1 water shutoff threat.
Hibbing City Attorney Eddie Borland told the City Council on March 19 that residents of Forest Heights Trailer Park (also called Hemming Village) had raised concerns about planned extensive remodeling and potential displacement. Borland said state statute requires 12 months' notice to relocate park residents and recommended the council send a letter to the park owner advising that "I don't believe he can proceed in this fashion" and copying the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to flag relocation assistance options.
Resident Tom Potachnick told the council he had heard a threat that water service might be shut off on May 1 and asked whether that threat was real. Councilor Veil replied that the message did not come from Hibbing Public Utilities and that available information suggested the owner "is choosing to shut off" service because repairs are needed; Borland said his drafted letter did not address water shutoffs specifically, which is a separate operational issue.
The council moved to approve circulating Borland's letter and to have staff follow up with the agencies referenced. The council also asked residents to file comment sheets for the record so staff could follow up on specific household impacts and timelines.
The action was procedural direction — the council approved sending the advisory letter and contacting state agencies; no ordinance or emergency regulation was adopted, and the record reflects the city's plan to monitor the situation and pursue state assistance channels. The letter and related HRA/state referrals were described as a first step; further action would depend on findings from agency responses and any formal filings by the park owner.
