DOZENS of residents of an Indiana mobile home park have blamed their landlord as they face having their water shut off.
At least 22 families live at Bourne End Mobile Home Park in Peru - approximately 73 miles north of Indianapolis.
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They could soon see their water shut off in less than a week due to unpaid bills.
However, the tenants say the owner of the park is at fault.
James Park reportedly owes more than $77,000 in water and sewage bills to Peru Utilities, according to local ABC affiliate WRTV.
These fees are allegedly supposed to be included in the regular rent payments, Peru mayor Miles Hewitt told the outlet.
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Hewitt revealed that the city doesn’t want to shut off the water, but they have been left with no choice.
“I am sorry, but we have no choice as a city. We are going to have to,” he said.
“We can’t bankrupt the utilities.”
Park reportedly lives in California and has failed to pay any of the bills necessary for the mobile home park, the mayor detailed.
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Meanwhile, the residents there have continued to meet every monthly rent payment.
“He's not paying taxes. It's come to the point where at $70,000, we can't afford to continue to give free service to them,” Hewitt said.
For months city officials have attempted to provide support for the community, with Peru Utilities trying to set up payment arrangements with Park.
However, the city only reportedly received “two small payments” over the span of the last five months.
Joshua Chance, the general manager of Peru Utilities, claimed to WRTV that Park and his team have “refused to communicate.”
“It's extremely challenging. On one hand, it's not fair to the 22 residents in Mobile Home Park, but also not fair for other 4K customers to have to pick up a $77,000 tab,” he said.
The mayor has echoed those frustrations, saying the residents “deserve better.”
Hewitt has said he hopes the threat of shutting off the water will get Park’s attention before they have to get the Board of Health involved.
However, until then, he claims his hands are tied.
As the city has seemingly halted its efforts to aid the residents, the tenants are still left seeking help.
"Save us. Somebody help us please. We need it," resident Lyndi Cook said.
"I have two children and it's scary to tell your kids you don't know where you are going to be staying next week.”
While the tenants wait to see if Park will take further action, the city of Peru is reportedly looking into the process of receivership.
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This would essentially allow the city to take over the property.
At the same time, Peru Utilities is reportedly calling on tenants living in the mobile park home to contact the Attorney General for further assistance.
