Brandedale residents ask Carver County to take over park inspections, cite years of unaddressed health hazards

Residents of Brandedale Estates urged the Carver County Board of Commissioners to adopt a county delegation agreement for manufactured‑home park inspections, arguing state inspections by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) have repeatedly failed to identify conditions they say threaten health and safety.

"By law, the courts simply hand over our homes that we've paid for to the park," said Natasha Adams, a Brandedale resident, summarizing what she described as the final indignity for homeowners who lose equity after eviction. Adams told the board she and neighbors would email MDH inspection reports from 2022 through 2025 that show "no violations and no new orders" despite ongoing problems.

Why it matters: Adams and other residents described a pattern of chronic issues — sewage surfacing near play areas, frequent water shutoffs, dozens of nonworking streetlights — and urged the county to follow the example of 14 Minnesota counties that have negotiated delegation agreements allowing counties to conduct on‑site inspections and recommend or withhold relicensure until owners correct violations. "Carver County employs people who already have the knowledge and skills to inspect sewer, water, and electrical infrastructure," Adams said, arguing the county could perform annual on‑site checks and ensure fixes are completed.

County response and next steps: Chair acknowledged the testimony and asked Adams to provide the list of the 14 counties that use delegation agreements for manufactured housing inspections. Staff indicated they are taking notes for follow‑up; no formal county action on delegation was taken at this meeting.

Provenance: topic introduced in public comment (SEG 297) and most recently discussed in chair follow‑up (SEG 441).