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Indiana State Health Department is seeking a compromise between Winona Lake and Merrywood trailer park.
Plans to cut off sewer service to Merrywood Mobile Home Park by the town of Winona Lake led to some calls Wednesday by the state health department, which is now intervening.
A state official expressed optimism that problems could be resolved before the end of the month, when the town is threatening to cut off sewer service.
If a compromise isn't reached, the state could seek a court injunction.
"We would certainly look at that as a possibility," said Mike Hoover, a spokesman for the state health department.
"We've put both parties on notice that they need to fix it and take care of it because we don't want the health of the people in that community put in jeopardy," Hoover said.
The town voted Tuesday to cut off sewer service because the park management has ignored requests by the town to resolve water infiltration problems. Town officials say numerous letters alerting the park to an April 15 deadline were ignored, while the park manager said he's done everything possible.
The town did not set a date to cut off service, but town council president Brent Wilcoxson suggested the sewer line be capped by the end of the month. He said he hopes Tuesday's vote would motivate the park to take action.
The move could force residents in the 82-unit park to close.
The action could also result in the displacement of residents in the 82-unit park located on the south side of U.S. 30.
State law allows towns and utilities to take action in some circumstances, Hoover said.
"Even though the utility may have certain rights under the law to perform some things, the state department of health does not think it is in the best interest in public health ... to allow this to happen," Hoovers said.
"Sewage could back up, be exposed to the public and then we'd have a public health issue," he said.
Town officials said leaks in sewer lines within the park are so bad that it's causing significant infiltration, resulting in increased cost to the town. Winona Lake pays Warsaw to treat its sewage.
After Tuesday's vote, the town contacted the county health department, which is serving as a liaison between the town and state.
"I think if it goes to court, the state department of health will support the town as much as it could because they understand the infiltration," said Jon Cupp, a spokesman for the county health department.
"Fortunately, this is a state issue and I don't have to fool with it. You'd have to have the wisdom of Solomon on this thing," Cupp said.
The state has been watching Merrywood for a few years. When the park's septic system began to fail two years ago, the state mandated the park hook onto Warsaw's system through Winona Lake.
The state has also taken action after violations involving the park's drinking water supply. Details about those violations and the remedy were not immediately available from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
The violations did not involve a health threat, Hoover said.
Most of the complaints involved taste and odor.
"Drinking water can really look bad, smell bad and taste absolutely deplorable, but from a public health viewpoint, it won't make you sick," Hoover said.
The park is owned by Gary DeLucenay, of Elkhart, and managed by Claude Wood.
