LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Tenants at a Lubbock mobile home park have water after going more than two weeks without it following a justice of the peace’s threat to jail the property owner, Austin Hughes.
On Oct. 9, a City of Lubbock environmental health inspector visited the mobile home park and cited violations including surfacing sewage, an overflowing dumpster and standing water in the pool, according to a report obtained by the KCBD Investigates team. The inspector documented that water to the park would be turned off until Thunder Sun could fix the underlying sewage issues.
Tenant seeks legal help
The problem has become familiar for tenant Ida Bosque, who first reported water and electricity shut-offs to the KCBD Investigates Team in January. Months later, Bosque said the park still has issues, which is why she contacted Adam Pirtle, a staff attorney with Legal Aid of Northwest Texas.
“We were just tired of being without water and going someplace else to take a shower or going to a laundry mat to wash clothes,” Bosque said.
On Oct. 24, Bosque worked with Pirtle to file an application for a writ of restoration. The document states interruptions of electricity or water were caused by the landlord in June, July, April and February of this year, and in December, October, September and August of last year.
“I am so grateful that you and KCBD have been reporting on this story for so long. Before I got involved, y’all were getting things done by putting eyes on this and giving people like Ms. Bosque a voice to stand up for their rights,” Pirtle said.
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Court hearing and contempt ruling
On Oct. 31, Hughes appeared for the hearing in Bosque’s case. Hughes testified that the plumber he initially hired claimed to be working to resolve the issue, but lied and took off with his money. Hughes said he was in the process of working out a payment plan with another plumbing company.
Bosque testified she had been without water for 22 days. Judge Dill told Hughes that paying tenants deserve to have water and electricity. She held Hughes in contempt and said if water was not restored to the park by Nov. 7, he would be confined to jail.
Hughes declined to comment after the hearing.
“I was positive it was going to get turned on,” Bosque said. “Because if he didn’t get it turned back on, he was going to go to jail.”
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Other issues remain
Pirtle said he is happy these tenants now have water but issues remain.
“There is still more to be done. You can see over there there’s a dumpster still overflowing with trash,” Pirtle said.
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Minutes after the interview with Pirtle on Friday, Nov. 7, the park’s dumpster was hauled off. The driver said it was for non-payment.
Bosque said that’s not her only concern. She received a flyer from Reliant last month letting her know the park would lose electricity for non-payment.
“We are paying him money and he is not using to pay for our water or electricity or any of that,” Bosque said.
Bosque said despite the notice, they haven’t lost electricity, but getting information from utility companies is difficult because the accounts are in the property owner’s name.
Last month, Thunder Sun filed for bankruptcy, but the judge dismissed the case without prejudice, leaving tenants wondering what’s next.
Hughes has not responded to requests for comment.
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