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\u2019s threat to jail the property owner, Austin Hughes.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Tenant seeks legal help<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just tired of being without water and going someplace else to take a shower or going to a laundry mat to wash clothes,\u201d Bosque said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so grateful that you and KCBD have been reporting on this story for so long. Before I got involved, y\u2019all were getting things done by putting eyes on this and giving people like Ms. Bosque a voice to stand up for their rights,\u201d Pirtle said.<\/p>\n
Previous Story: KCBD Investigates Tenant Troubles: Tenants across the South Plains complain of water shut offs, overflowing sewage, and leaks<\/a><\/p>\n Court hearing and contempt ruling<\/p>\n On Oct. 31, Hughes appeared for the hearing in Bosque\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Hughes declined to comment after the hearing.<\/p>\n \u201cI was positive it was going to get turned on,\u201d Bosque said. \u201cBecause if he didn\u2019t get it turned back on, he was going to go to jail.\u201d<\/p>\n Previous Story:Tenant Troubles: Tenants say landlord failed to pay electricity bill for nearly two weeks<\/a><\/p>\n Other issues remain<\/p>\n Pirtle said he is happy these tenants now have water but issues remain.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is still more to be done. You can see over there there\u2019s a dumpster still overflowing with trash,\u201d Pirtle said.<\/p>\n