The town of Oakland held their monthly meeting on September 9. After handling housekeeping items like approving the prior meeting’s minutes and the purchase orders, the council dove into an issue that has been a thorn in their side for quite some time.
Some Oakland residents have travel trailers, also known as recreational vehicles, on their property with people living in them. Typically, a travel trailer’s purpose is for out of town family members who visit. They stay in the camper for a few days, then go home.
Unfortunately, some residents have family members living in the travel trailers sitting on their property. This is a problem for a few reasons. The main reason, it can be a safety hazard. If the RV and permanent home are both hooked up to one electric pole, it could override the voltage and start a fire.
Also, there are sanitation issues. Some travel trailers do not have water hooked up to it. It becomes a sanitation problem when the inhabitant has to empty the sanitation tank. Most of the time, the tanks must be dumped at a specific place called RV Sanitation Stations.
Another issue is the Department of Environmental Quality. The organization tends to frown on allowing multiple dwellings hook up to one individual water and septic. Of course, trailer parks are different because their septics are made for multiple dwellings.
The issue with the campers has been a hot topic for quite some time. The town has been trying to figure out how to address the problem. Currently, there is a town ordinance prohibiting travel trailers. Unfortunately, Oakland officials has problems enforcing the ordinances because the town does not have a code enforcement officer.
Also, the town cannot enforce it themselves, because they currently do not have a court system.
The council discussed ways to ensure that nobody is discriminated against and the rules encompasses everybody. The council voted to add amended ordinances to the town charter focusing on the travel trailer issues — enacting a time limit to rectify the situation, or specific situations like the residents needing time to build a house on their property.
After dealing with the travel trailer issue, it was time for the council to discuss the Animal Control contract. Last month, they offered the contract to Chris Idleman and planned on revisiting the contract at this meeting. All members said they are pleased with his work.
“I think he’s doing wonderful job,” Rhonda Whitsett, the Oakland Town Clerk said. Idleman’s contract was renewed.
Mayor John Moss closed the meeting with an astonishing revelation. He is wanting to step down as mayor. The item was slotted to be placed on next month’s agenda so the council can discuss and vote on it. If approved, Sam Dishmon, the current Vice Mayor will step in until a new mayor is voted on by the council.