Residents listen to city's relocation plans

CLEARWATER -- City officials stood before more than 200 residents of the Friendly Village of Kapok mobile home park Thursday night and said they hope everyone "comes out a winner" when the city relocates all the park's residents over the next year.

Clearwater commissioners approved the purchase of the 37-acre mobile home park last week so they can create a small lake to reduce flooding along Alligator Creek. At Thursday's first meeting with the park's residents, officials asked them to set up appointments with relocation assistants who will help them move.

The project is estimated to cost $16.7-million. Of that, $2-million to $4-million will be spent moving the residents.

"We intend to take the burden of this relocation for you," said Marilyn Jackson of HDR Engineering, the company the city hired to manage the relocations and run the mobile home park until May 2003, when all residents must leave.

Clearly, the speech didn't relieve the anxiety of everyone in the audience. Although about half the people there left after a city presentation, the questions from those who remained were pointed.

Many centered around what people would be paid for the loss of their homes and community. Officials often responded that they would need to hash out specifics with residents in upcoming individual meetings.

Resident Tim Hewitt thanked city officials for the "Arthur Murray dance routine."

"We're leaving with the same questions," he said. "Some questions are being skirted or deferred."

Several people questioned why they couldn't have their own appraiser, rather than a city appraiser, assess the value of their home to set the price the city will pay for it.

"They're being vague about fair market value, and they should be able to define that better for people," resident Nancy Puzar said.

The city proposes to pay to move mobile homes within 50 miles for owner-occupants if the homes can be moved. After the move, residents may also receive reimbursements for things such as utility hookups and higher rents at a new mobile home park, at least temporarily.

The city plans to purchase homes that cannot be moved for their market value, as defined by a city-hired appraiser, officials said. Residents who need more money to purchase a comparable home elsewhere may be eligible for an additional payment. The city will also cover moving costs.

People who rent their homes will be reimbursed for moving costs and can receive help finding a place to move, according to the city.

Factors such as schools that children attend, proximity to jobs or special needs due to disabilities will be taken into consideration as the city plans each resident's relocation, said Terry Finch, who will oversee the project for Clearwater.

In some cases, the city may help move people to apartments or houses nearby instead of other mobile home parks.

Despite concerns, city officials said they were pleased with the turnout and thought the meeting went well.

Don Hazelton, a member of the state board of directors for the Federation of Manufactured Home Owners of Florida Inc., said the meeting was mild compared to some he has seen.

"The city of Clearwater is acting very responsibly. They're doing a lot more than state law requires," Hazelton said.

When a mobile home park's residents are relocated, state guidelines call for residents to receive up to $10,000 and reimbursement for moving expenses. The city has based its relocation plan on federal rules, which say displaced mobile home owners should receive up to $22,500 in compensation.

Even so, Phyllis and Denis Bethke, who have lived here for nearly 34 years and have been activists for mobile home owners in the state, said they remain anxious about how the city's plan will affect them.

"We can't afford to incur more debt now as we're looking at retirement," Bethke said. "This was our retirement assurance. We renovated it. We owned it. We thought we were going to be there until God called us home."

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