The Town of Clay has condemned a trailer at Casual Estates which neighbors say has become a menace and potential health hazard.
The building is full of trash, rotting garbage and animal feces according to Susan Travers who lives next door. She says the mobile home at 3529 Berkley Court was abandoned by its owner, Angela White in June but she has not been heard from since.
Travers feels the Onondaga County Health Department has dropped the ball on enforcing its regulations. In July, a Health Department inspector posted a notice on the front door warning White that trailer violates the Sanitary Code because of "offensive odors." But Travers says the Health Department refused to declare the property a public health hazard which would have cleared the way to demolish the structure.
The Health Department's Director of Environmental Health, Kevin Zimmerman told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon, "Our jurisdiction is limited to imminent public health threat." He says while the trailer is a "nuisance...odors are not considered imminent health threats unless chemicals are involved." Zimmerman added that the Health Department is working with the park "to get this finally abated."
The manager of Casual Estates, Jarrod Van Meter says he will withhold comment about the property, but he did confirm that he contacted the Codes Enforcement for the Town of Clay which has decided to condemn the property.
Clay Planning and Development Commissioner Mark Territo says the town will post a notice on the trailer which gives the owner 3 days to bring the property into compliance. If White does not comply with the order, he says Casual Estates will be able to demolish the building.
Travers says she's grateful that the Town of Clay and Casual Estates will take action. She says during the past summer the stench eminating from the trailer was overwhelming. She blames the trailer next door for contributing to asthma in one of her children .
Van Meter also confirmed that Casual Estates is seeking to condemn 3 other abandoned trailers in the park.
