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Neighbors complain of long-term encampment on Simpson Road; code officer pledges follow-up
Summary
Resident Norma Switalski described a longtime homeless encampment on Simpson Road that she said threatens safety and use of private trails; code enforcement officer Mike Haydon said police must observe the trespass to act and offered to follow up if police do not.
During public comment at the July 7 Mendon Township board meeting, resident Norma Switalski said a man has been living on family-owned property on Simpson Road since spring and that neighbors feel unsafe and cannot use their trail and recreation areas.
"My granddaughter can no longer go to the barn to get her horses alone," Switalski said, adding that neighbors have seen the encampment and tried to contact police. She said the situation has affected privacy around her sister's pool and curtailed walking and biking along the nearby natural beauty road.
Sgt. contact and code enforcement were discussed: Switalski said she had met with a sheriff's sergeant, who left a note on the tent asking the person to leave. Code enforcement officer Mike Haydon told the board the sheriff's department needs to observe the person on the property to complete a trespass removal and that he would go to the site if notified. "If the police won't do it, I will," Haydon said, and he offered to collect contact information from Switalski to follow up.
The board did not take formal action during the July 7 meeting but heard resident concerns and was advised that police and code enforcement would need to coordinate on removal or other remedies.
