The tctimes in Fenton, Michigan reports the problems allegedly emanating from the Lake Ponemah Mobile Home Park have become a bone of contention between some of the residents, the Fenton Township Board of Trustees, Genesee County Undersheriff Chris Swanson, the MHC owners, and state governing board Michigan Manufactured Housing Commission (MMHC). Residents complain abut drugs, violence, and homes being vandalized. The township attorney says his office prosecutes someone from the 50 home MHC about once a month. The board supervisor says she would close the community if possible, but enforcement is the responsibility of the MMHC. The MMHC says it is not responsible for enforcing civil law, that’s up to the legal system. Swanson says illicit drugs are there just like everywhere else in the township, that many of the police runs are due to social issues over which the police have no control, and attributes the criminal element to a handful of five persons who are in and out of jail. MHProNews has learned owners Sam Myflari and Veli Veliu have owned the community since 1995 and have worked to maintain the homes, demolished the ones beyond repair, and spent $80,000 on water upgrades. Resident and community maintenance worker Mel Rosema says, “I’m 56 steps away from the lake. Where else can you live for $275 a month and live near a lake?”

Photo credit: William Axford/tctimes–Mel Rosema dismantles an older home.)