News

Alpine faces water cutoff for unpaid bill

By Bill Moss, Published: June 11, 2015

The ambitious effort by the city of Hendersonville and Henderson County Board to temporarily take over and clean up Alpine Woods Resort has given way to a scaled back effort to enforce housing codes and evict criminals.

The two local government bodies and District Attorney Greg Newman had filed a complaint asking a judge to declare the trailer park a nuisance and turn it over to a court-appointed receiver who would use rent proceeds to pay for repairs.
On Monday, Newman, City Attorney Sam Fritschner and County Attorney Russ Burrell agreed to drop the lawsuit provided that Alpine Woods owner Warren Newell cooperate in evicting habitual breachers of the peace and banishing them as “barred persons.”
The sheriff’s department has compiled a list of emergencies, disturbances and crimes committed at the trailer park and as far back as January 2014 had notified Newell in writing that the park could be declared a public nuisance. The section of state law that allows a judge to declare property a public nuisance is based on criminal activity, not housing conditions. Under terms of the dismissal, Newell agreed to pursue “summary ejection” of habitual criminals the sheriff lists.
“I think as it relates to the criminal element it is a step forward,” City Manager John Connet said of the lawsuit’s dismissal. “As it relates to the other issues for Mr. Newell, time will tell whether he has gotten the message. The main point is we’re going to strictly enforce the minimum housing code to make him provide the best place to live for these folks.”
The city, which has condemned eight units, will step up its minimum housing code enforcement.
“Basically we’ve already been doing minimum housing inspection and had condemned several units out there and we’re going to continue to do that,” Connet said. “One of the big things is on the water and sewer side. He has got to stay current with his utility bill and if he does not stay current we will disconnect the water, which will make the whole park out of compliance.”
He’s anything but current now.
“He owes us $16,000 right now and he’s on the cutoff list for next week if he does not,” Connet said. “Yes, unfortunately it’s the tenants that suffer” if the city cuts off water. If that happens, the owner will be in violation of the housing code requirement that a landlord provide running water. “Ultimately we can under the minimum housing code condemn the property and take it away from him,” Connet said.

City Utilities Director Lee Smith said Thursday that the $16,000 bill remained unpaid. The property's April bill was $11,000 and the May bill was $5,000. "I don't have any explanation for the difference," he said.