Retaliation for Mobile Home Park Tenants Demanding Their Rights
February 11, 2014 | Joan M. QuadeMobile homes, or manufactured homes, are abundant across the United States. As of 2008, 3.7{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of the total housing in Minnesota was made up of manufactured homes. U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 American Community Survey; Tab. B25024. In 2009, the Metropolitan Council, a Minnesota regional governmental and metropolitan planning agency, published its first report since 1988 with regard to Manufactured Home Parks in the Twin Cities. Metropolitan Council, MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS IN THE TWIN CITIES, January 2009. According to the report, manufactured homes make up 1.4{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of all homes in the seven-county metro area. Anoka County alone has twenty-four (24) parks, which is more than one in four of the metro area’s total manufactured home parks. Mobile Home Owner Concerns Many choose to live in a manufactured home because of the advantages; for example, manufactured homes are more affordable than conventional homes and zoning restrictions in rural communicates, where manufactured homes are common, are often less restrictive than in urban areas. Scommegna, Paola, Study Finds U.S. Manufactured-Home Owners Face ‘Quasi-Homelessness.’ However, most manufactured home owners don’t own the land on which their home rests. In effect, these homeowners are “landless,” leaving them at the mercy of the manufactured home park landlord. The control and security normally associated with a conventional home is absent for…
Read MoreBGS Supports Scholarship at Anoka Ramsey Community College
February 11, 2014 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.Barna, Guzy and Steffen, Ltd. is the largest law firm in the North Metro area. We recognize that as such, we have the opportunity to make a great impact on the communities that we serve and to give back in ways that are meaningful and important. Part of our firm’s mission statement conveys this message as we “recognize the value of a meaningful community, professional and civic life.” Many of our attorneys and staff are actively involved in our community. One of the ways in which our firm has given back over the years is the continued support of the Bernie and Natalie Steffen Scholarship at Anoka Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids Campus. Real Estate Attorney /Shareholder Kristi Riley currently serves on ARCC’s Board of Directors Coon Rapids Foundation. Last spring, the Steffen scholarship was awarded to Ms. Kelly Olson. Kelly was recently asked about the impact of this scholarship and said, “This scholarship has been very beneficial because, first of all, it is helping me stay out of debt and it also helps me stay motivated to do well in my classes. I feel very honored to have received this scholarship.” There are many scholarships available at ARCC and the March 14th deadline for Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 scholarships is quickly…
Read MoreWater Well Regulation in Minnesota
February 6, 2014 | Joan M. QuadeThe majority of Minnesotans rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water, and more than one million Minnesotans have private wells. In Anoka County, 30{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of residents are served with water through a private well on their property. In order to ensure public safety and the protection of precious water resources for the large number of Minnesotans who rely on well water, the Minnesota Department of Health (“MDH”) is tasked with the regulation of the construction of new wells, private or public, as well as the inspection of all existing wells and the sealing of unused wells. Understanding the rules which govern water wells in Minnesota is important not only to ensure that your well is up to code and your water is clean and safe, but also to provide guidance when it is time to sell your home. Minnesota Rules chapter 4725, otherwise known as the Minnesota Well Code, and Minnesota Statutes Chapter 103I govern the requirements and restrictions regarding wells in Minnesota. Normally, the MDH monitors wells statewide, however, some cities and counties have assumed some of the responsibility for regulating well regulation themselves, such as the City of Bloomington, the City of Minneapolis, and several counties including Blue Earth, Dakota, Goodhue, LeSueur, Olmstead, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona. Anoka…
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