Prosecutor targets mobile-home park

1/24/2004

The owner of a mobile-home park in southwest Lucas County continues to ignore court orders to fix problems at the park, and her neglect has resulted in a worsening public health problem, according to the Lucas County Prosecutor s Office.

“She appears impervious to court orders,” said Lance Keiffer, an assistant county prosecutor.

Mr. Keiffer made his remarks Thursday during a meeting of the Toledo-Lucas County board of health where he urged the board to give his office broad authority, on public health grounds, to seek a legal solution.

The board voted unanimously to grant authority to take action against Peaceful Acres Mobile Home Park.

Mr. Keiffer said based on information from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, he learned that one resident of the park has no water supply, and that water pressure is low at several other mobile homes.

Pat Gitler of Waterford, Mich., owns the mobile-home park in Providence Township with her husband, Mel.

The park is about 7 miles west of Waterville, and has about 60 mobile homes with 180 residents, according to Mr. Keiffer.

Mrs. Gitler was sentenced to 30 days in jail in August after refusing to pay a $94,000 civil fine for failing to provide a safe water supply at the park.

Problems at the park date to at least 2000, according to state and court records.

Mr. Keiffer said the health board could revoke Mrs. Gitler s license, but he worries about displacing the park s residents. Instead, his office is looking into whether it can divert rent payments to a third party to pay for correcting problems at the park while the prosecutor s office and state come up with a permanent solution.

Mrs. Gitler could not be reached for comment.