Lauderdale County supervisors were cheering amongst the loudest in January when Compass Datacenters announced an 8-year, $10 billon data campus project in the Key Brothers Industrial Park, but work is needed to prepare the community for the influx of people the project is expected to bring.

 

In a work session Thursday, county Road Manager Rush Mayatt told the Board of Supervisors some action will need to be taken concerning mobile home parks that are rapidly flocking to the area. The county planning commission, which is responsible for approving new subdivisions and developments, isn’t functioning as it should, he said, and it is unclear if the current policy includes mobile homes.

 

“There’s a lot of things that are kind of brewing, that I’ve either caught wind or people have reached out directly, and I just think we’re in a position we need to take some type of action,” he said.

 

Lauderdale County, in the past, has dealt with subdivisions and developments where contractors put in inadequate infrastructure and then turn that infrastructure over to the county to repair and maintain. Supervisors have previously discussed the need for developments to go before the planning commission to make sure roads, drainage and other public infrastructure is built to acceptable standards before the county accepts it.

 

Mayatt said he fears similar situations with consistency could take place with mobile home parks if the county doesn’t take steps to get out in front of the problem.

 

“Now is the time to get this thing in order and get it active,” he said. “It’s not when all this stuff is taking place.”

 

Supervisor J.J. Anders said he has also heard from residents concerned about the sudden influx of mobile home parks, and while he believes individuals should be allowed to do what they want with their own land, commercial developments need to be held to a certain standard. If a private landowner wants to put a mobile home on their property, he said, that should be allowed, but setting up a mobile home park as a business should go to the planning commission, he said.

 

Supervisor Craig Houston said he has seen the developments in his district and understands the need to move forward.

 

“We need to make a move on it pretty quick,” he said.

 

Board Attorney Lee Thaggard said he did not know off the top of his head if the county’s subdivision ordinance included mobile home parks. Either way, he said, the planning commission exists to help enforce policy set by the Board of Supervisors. It will be up to the board to give the planning commission direction on how to deal with the coming boom of mobile homes and new neighborhoods.

 

Solid Waste Enforcement Officer Daniel Mabry said the board should also consider implementing a rule concerning garbage collection, especially when it comes to temporary housing such as for construction workers staying six months or less. Temporary workers aren’t likely to get a car tag in Lauderdale County, which is when most residents pay their garbage bill, and owners of mobile home parks likely live elsewhere and have their cars registered at their own home addresses. That creates a situation where no-one can be held responsible for paying garbage service at the mobile home parks.