Ely extends deadline for White Pine Mobile Home Park evictions, approves $10,000 for relocation assistance

The Ely City Council on July 24 approved a 30-day extension for tenants of the White Pine Mobile Home Park, moving the compliance deadline to Aug. 26 to give displaced residents additional time to secure housing.

City Building Official Don Hendrickson told the Council that, as of July 22, 10 mobile homes and four RVs remained on the site, along with two abandoned vehicles and scattered trash; several units and RVs have been removed in recent days. Hendrickson recommended a 30-day extension to afford tenants due process and allow social-services referrals to assist relocations.

"I think thirty days would give ample time," Hendrickson said, noting social services have already been directing tenants to available supports. City Attorney Chris Arabia suggested the Council set the deadline as Aug. 26 to allow follow-up inspection and oversight.

Several tenants and former tenants described urgent housing needs during public comment. "We're facing displacement of our current housing along with about seven other families there," said John Taylor, who asked the Council to consider conditional renewal or oversight of the owner’s license. Patricia Helen Colville said she lost everything in a prior fire and has been homeless since May of last year. Multiple speakers described health impacts and unsanitary conditions they attributed to the park.

White Pine County Social Services Director Desiree Barnson told the Council that emergency moves she has helped arrange have cost "$3,000 to $5,000 per family," and that any city donation could be earmarked for current park residents. "Any amount is super appreciated and helpful," Barnson said.

Councilman Terrill Trask moved to implement the 30-day extension; Councilwoman Melody Van Camp seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

The Council also approved donating $10,000 from the City’s contingency fund to White Pine County Social Services, earmarked for relocation assistance for current residents of the White Pine Trailer Park. The Council made that donation by unanimous vote.

At the meeting owner Mark Moattar spoke during public comment, saying most of the tenants had not paid rent for June or July and that he had been covering water and maintenance costs. "The only person who paid in July out of ten tenants was trailer #8 of $500," Moattar said, adding that he is trying to sell the park. He disputed a newspaper photo he said had been attributed to his property.

The Council directed staff to revisit the situation at the Aug. 28 meeting to report on progress and to confirm compliance with the Aug. 26 deadline.