A recent report of a leaking, open sewage lagoon at Lightner Creek Mobile Home Park has prompted representatives at Animas Mobile Home Community to offer to relocate three Lightner residents free of charge.
On March 24, The Durango Herald reported that the Lightner Creek Mobile Home Park was issued a cease-and-desist order for its septic pond, which has been in violation of the Clean Water Act for more than a decade for being outdated, operating without a permit and seeping into its namesake creek.
Crystal Martinez, a resident of the park located a mile off U.S. Highway 160 west of Durango on County Road 207, lamented the constant nasty smell of the lagoon, which takes in the waste of 40 mobile homes, and accused the property owner, Darlene Mann, of ignoring complaints.
“When we looked at the article, we said: ‘we have the ability to help these people,’” said David Graham, vice president of sales and marketing at RV Horizons, the company that manages the mobile home park.
Graham said Animas Mobile Home Community has three available lots for lease, and the company is offering to cover the cost of moving the mobile homes, which can run from $6,000 to $10,000.
The Animas Mobile Home Community at 288 Animas View Drive, was purchased by real estate investor Dave Reynolds in December. He announced shortly after that the prized location along the Animas River would remain a mobile home park.
“Our whole goal is to provide affordable housing for people,” Graham said. “Every resident we have is a valued resident, and our company is here to make affordable housing for people and have communities. If their home can move, we would love to fill up our communities.”
Graham said rent at Animas Mobile Home Community is $460 a month. As of Wednesday, he said no one has taken the company up on its offer.
Mann deferred inquires about the monthly rates at Lightner Creek Mobile Home Park to her lawyer, John Seibert, who has not provided the information.
And how does Animas Mobile Home Community deal with the sewage of an estimated 400 residents?
“We have main water and sewer lines,” Graham said. “We would never let our community have a lagoon. That would be insane.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com
For more information
Those interested in the Animas Mobile Home Community offer can contact David Graham at (620) 804-0952.
