Superior's City Council on Tuesday ended a longstanding dispute with Richard and Cynthia Larson, who previously leased the Nemadji Trailer Park & Camping.
The council agreed to purchase assets built by the Larsons, who managed the trailer park near the Nemadji River in Superior's East End for 30 years. The facility now is managed by Bachand Group Inc. under an agreement with the city that was adopted in December after the Larsons chose to let their lease with the city expire.
Under the terms of that lease, the Larsons were allowed to build facilities the couple deemed necessary to operate the mobile home and recreational vehicle park near East Fifth Street.
While the lease allowed the city to order the removal of the private improvements made, they are improvements the city would want to keep if the property is going to be a mobile home park, said City Attorney Frog Prell.
Among the improvements the council approved paying $185,000 for are accessory structures, garages, storage sheds, porches and decks, appliances and fixtures, a service building, dumping station, driveways and slabs, picnic tables and chairs, landscaping, streets and sidewalks, drainage system, electrical and water meters and water and sewer systems in the park.
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Aside from the mobile homes, anything you see out there is a result of the Larsons, Prell said.
The agreement reached with the Larsons protects the city from claims for deposits the couple received from tenants of the park during their tenure as managers of the facility.
The Larsons accepted the city's offer before the matter was taken up by the council.
Before voting to approve the purchase, Councilor Dan Olson questioned whether there were other plans for the property or if the city-owned property would remain a mobile home park.
"No one's being asked to leave, that's for certain," Prell said, stating he was unaware of any other plans being made for the property.
