Mobile Home Park Residents Granted 30 More Days.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “As of yesterday, we’re hopeful we’re more hopeful than we were,” says Mary Anne Brazell, Parkwood Mobile Home Park resident. For the next 30 days, Mary Anne Brazell gets to keep her home. That’s a far cry from the last time we spoke with her. Just last week Mary Anne and other residents of Parkwood Mobile Home Park were scared they would be homeless today. That’s because last Wednesday, their water was shut off and they were all given un-officials eviction notices after they learned the park’s owners hadn’t paid for the park’s water. Leaving the bills to pile up. “It’s $7,500 for the water and $6,900 for the water and sewer,” says Brazell. Monday, residents and the owners appeared in court where the owners said they couldn’t pay the bill. “They flat out said, we just don’t have the money,” says Brazell. Yet, Mary Anne Brazell, doesn’t understand that. “With as many lots that are occupied she should have more than enough money to pay the water and sewer,” says Brazell. A judge ruled yesterday, regardless of who’s at fault, the resident’s rent payments will go toward the delinquent bill giving the owners until November 21 to pay it off. “This is a big bill, a big bill. We’ve already paid our part and now we are going to have to pay it again,” says Brazell. But some aren’t willing to to do that. “We are faced now with some people moving out,” says Brazell. Mary Anne says that’s a problem. “It’s takes away from the amount of money we have coming in to pay off this 14,000 bill,” says Brazell. But, she’s holding out hope that enough residents will stay and help pay off the bill so that they will keep their homes. “I’m optomistic, but you know in the back of my mind there’s a back up plan working to try and do what I need to do, because I do have a family to worry about and if it goes south, I got to put my family somewhere,” says Brazell. The residents will have another hearing with the magistrate in 30 days to re-evaluate the situation.