Gulf Vista residents tell Monee board management won’t fix driveways, cite safety and cost concerns

Residents of the Gulf Vista mobile-home community pressed the Village of Monee Board of Trustees during the July 8 public-comment period, saying park management has stopped a long-standing practice of repairing driveways, sidewalks and home pads and is now requiring tenants to pay for those repairs.

"It's kind of ridiculous because we don't own the land," said Ray Rosewell, who described himself as a registered voter and Gulf Vista resident. He told the board the park operator has been citing resale-inspection reports and insisting homeowners replace concrete pads and sidewalks rather than performing repairs as they had in the past.

Rosewell and several other speakers said that decades-old slabs and driveways are deteriorating because of poor drainage and erosion, creating trip hazards for older residents. "A lot of these homes have been there since the mid‑1990s," Rosewell said, and when water undermines the pads "it freezes, heaves, and now you got problems with sidewalks and driveways, which are hazards."

Other Gulf Vista speakers described similar problems and the financial strain of remedies. "We are all on special, you know, low income. We're on Social Security, and they're gonna want $5 [hundreds?] to go put a new concrete pad in," said Linda DeLee, a long‑time resident who called the driveways hazardous.

Speakers raised related concerns: alleged selective enforcement of rules, difficulties getting management or the corporate owner to meet with residents, rent increases they say outpace Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, and health and safety incidents inside park‑owned facilities. Several residents urged the village to intervene, form a working group, or otherwise press the management company for accountability.

Village building services staff described the inspection process and the options available to residents. Lance (Building Services) said inspectors make visual assessments and that, when an inspector cites a potential structural issue, the resident may obtain a professional assessment (for example, a structural engineer); if the professional report finds no problem, the building department will accept that report. On one cited pad issue staff said the house remained supported but the slab needed repair to preserve future integrity.

The board acknowledged the volume of concerns and the vulnerability of Gulf Vista residents. Mayor Boggs and other trustees said they had heard the testimony and would review files and options. Larry (the village attorney) cautioned he could not say too much publicly because the village had recently received a records request from counsel; he offered to bring relevant files back to the board for further review.

Next steps: trustees said they would consider residents' requests and research potential responses, including convening staff and residents to explore mutually beneficial options. Residents asked the village to look at lease language, enforcement practices and whether the park's obligations have changed; several suggested filing complaints with state senior‑advocacy entities or pursuing legal counsel where appropriate.

Community context: Gulf Vista residents repeatedly emphasized the community's demographic profile (many residents on fixed incomes and older adults) and warned that continuing deterioration would reduce safety and property values. Speakers urged more frequent oversight and a forum where residents could engage with management and village staff.

The board closed the public-comment period after extensive testimony and moved on to conclude the regular agenda.