Living in an RV on South Maple Street, a disabled woman has been in violation of a city ordinance for nearly five months.
In June, the city adopted Ordinance 1179, which bans occupation of recreational vehicles or park trailers on private or public property for more than 30 days per calendar year. The city enacted the mandate, citing health, welfare and public safety concerns.
Code enforcement officials notified the squatter on South Maple Street that she was in violation of the code soon after the measure was enacted. Lt. Andy Brock, of the Cortez Police Department, said officials have worked on a weekly basis since to help find her permanent housing.
“There’s been one hang-up after another,” Brock said, “but we don’t want to throw her out onto the streets.”
A South Maple Street resident said the woman has lived in the RV since March. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said he was concerned for her health.
“Winter is coming,” he said. “It’s just not safe for this lady to live there.”
The concerned resident understands the lack of affordable housing but insisted the city should enforce its laws or recall the ban. A $500 daily fine can be imposed under the ordinance.
According to Brock, police have received 22 complaints since the law took effect. Five were unfounded, and 16 notified of the violation complied and made other living arrangements. The South Maple Street incident is the only complaint officials have been unable to remedy, he said.
Code enforcement officials have been unable to find the woman adequate housing until now. Brock said the woman was scheduled to relocate from the RV into a shared living space with family members on Monday, Nov. 4. She has not been fined, he said.
City manager Shane Hale commended code enforcement officials, saying there is always a difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.
“At no time was it the city’s intent to cause homelessness,” Hale said. “Our police department exercised appropriate restraint by working with this lady to ensure that her housing needs were met first and foremost.”
