2016-07-05-minutes-commissioners-agenda

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07/05/2016 MINUTES 3 CITIZEN COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS River Melos expressed concerns with spending tax payer dollars on the Shady Acres property to evict people in the community. She felt there was no financial benefit to the Upper County and urged the Board to spend the money on something else. Mark Auslander asked the Board to think about the civil rights issues that have been raised. He thought breaking up the community would undercut the concentration of a minority population and exposure could be expensive to the County if there as litigation. Susi Weis explained she didn’t have a problem with the Barton’s selling their property, but as a tax paying citizen she has no interest in evicting families or purchasing it for the Event Center Master Plan. She thought the County should invest in the Upper County and noted how the Horse Park is a viable facility and easier to access than the Event Center. Janice Jump said she was concerned for the Barton’s and how a private citizen should be able to sell their property to whoever they’d like. She urged the Board to think about the Barton’s health and move forward with the purchase of the property. Susan Waddell said she served on the Habitat for Humanity Board and there are issues relating to affordable housing in every community. She supported a democratic solution that honors the resident and supports retention of the mobile home park. She hoped the County comes up with a good solution for everyone involved. Rodrigo De La Rosa said he was representing families of Shady Acres. He said they hope at each meeting to find an answer to lessen the stress on their community. He felt viable solutions have been offered to the families as they are a united community and they struggle day by day. The residents of their community hopes the County will think of their welfare. Nan Doolittle said she supported the families of Shady Acres. She explained how she has vast experience dealing with diverse families and they are distraught and upset over the situation. She said as a long time nurse she is fully aware of the consequences that stress can cause on older adults and would support the Barton’s selling the property, but hoped somebody else would purchase it with the current residents in mind. Ellen Schuttschneider asked questions relating to how the purchase would be financed by the County.