Missoula mayor, city councilors, state lawmakers express concern over mobile home park

A contingent of elected officials from Missoula including the mayor, 11 of 12 city council members and 15 state lawmakers from the area have penned a letter to the owner and management of a local mobile home court urging them to address ongoing concern regarding the condition of the property.

The Missoula Tenants Union has been working with the tenants of the North Star Trailer Park in Missoula's Northside neighborhood, and those tenants have formed the North Star Tenants Union. At a city council meeting in April, tenants told the city council that essential maintenance has been neglected and that lot rent has increased from around $300 a month to around $800 a month in four years. The court has about 30 homes.

The groups announced the letter in a press release on Tuesday. The letter was addressed to Jennifer Plum and Josh Plum of Plum Property Management of Missoula and to Shane Reely of North Star Realty, the owner. Plum has not returned a request for comment to the Missoulian, and no phone number is listed for the owner.

"North Star residents have organized in response to serious concerns regarding park maintenance, infrastructure, affordability, and overall quality of life," the letter states. "We understand that tenants have repeatedly sought an opportunity to meet with management and ownership to discuss these concerns in a constructive and collaborative manner. We are troubled by reports that these requests have gone unanswered for months."

The officials requested that Plum Property Management and park ownership schedule a meeting with the tenants in the next 30 days, saying open dialogue is a fundamental component of responsible property stewardship.

Tenants told the city council in April that trees are in danger of falling onto cars or children and that there's a feral cat colony at the site.

"We are particularly concerned by reports of deferred maintenance and public health and safety issues within the park," the letter continued. "All Montanans deserve housing that is safe, well maintained, and managed responsibly. We encourage ownership and management to work cooperatively with residents to identify maintenance priorities, establish timelines for repairs and improvements, and address ongoing concerns regarding the condition of the property."

In April, Janis Diemer, another resident, told the city council they all live in what they feel is a truly special neighborhood. But she said the large increases in rent have been damaging.

"Our stability is being strained to a breaking point," she said. "Housing costs have risen to a level that is no longer manageable for us. What used to be tight has become overwhelming. Some residents are now facing impossible decisions, choosing between paying rent and affording basic necessities like food. This is not a distant concern. It's a daily reality."

The elected officials addressed the rent in their letter.

"We are also concerned about significant increases in lot rents and housing costs facing North Star residents," the letter said. "Across Montana, families are struggling with rising housing expenses and manufactured-home communities often provide one of the few remaining sources of affordable housing. Decisions that substantially increase housing costs can have profound impacts on working families, seniors living on fixed incomes, and residents with limited financial resources. These concerns warrant direct discussion and transparency between management and tenants."

The only city council member to not sign the letter was Bob Campbell. The letter was also signed by Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis along with state lawmakers Tom France, Zooey Zephyr, Connie Keogh, Jonathan Karlen, Melody Cunningham, Marilyn Marler, SJ Howell, Mark Thane, Shelly Fyant, Shane Morigeau, Willis Curdy, Ellie Boldman, Andrea Olsen and Jacinda Morigeau.

"The residents are seeking a seat at the table and an opportunity to work collaboratively toward solutions that improve safety, affordability, and quality of life within their community," the letter concluded. "We believe that meeting with the Union is a reasonable and responsible first step. We stand solidly with the residents of North Star Trailer Park and support their right to organize and advocate collectively for the well-being of their community. We respectfully urge you to engage with the North Star Tenants Union in good faith and to schedule a meeting as soon as possible."

In a statement, the North Star Tenants Union said that as of Tuesday, they had not received any answers to any of their request for meetings with management and ownership.

"The primary goal of the North Star Tenants Union remains communication, not confrontation," they said.