5th travel trailer added to Main Street property
Rusk moves forward with lawsuit

The saga of the Main Street recreational vehicle park continues with the addition of a fifth travel trailer to the four already situated on the lot.

The property is owned by W.R. Bowden and his son, Kevin Bowden. One-half of the property is zoned residential-one family and approximately one-half mobile home district.

Kevin Bowden, a former Rusk city manager, is the operator of the recreational vehicle park.

Before he opened the park, he obtained residential one family utility connections at city hall. He pays for one residential sewer tap, one residential water meter and for one residential garbage service.

Sewer and water lines on the site are believed to have been laid by Mr. Bowden to serve the travel trailers.

Mike Murray, Rusk city manager, said there are probably water and sewer drops on the property for 10-12 trailers.

City residential rates for water include a minimum of $11 for the first 1,000 gallons used and then $3.25 per thousand gallons up to 10,000 gallons when the price goes up to $3.50 per thousand gallons. Residential sewer rates are $14 for the first 3,000 gallons of water used and then an additional charge of $2.75 per thousand gallons of water used. Residential sewer rates have a cap of $38.75. Commercial sewer rates begin at $20 for the first 3,000 gallons of water use and $2.75 for every thousand gallons thereafter with no cap.

Residential garbage rates are $9.96 and commercial rates are $16.10.

The city filed suit against the two Mr. Bowdens on Jan. 9. Second Judicial District Court Judge Dwight Phifer signed an order Jan. 11 setting a hearing on the matter for 9 a.m. March 14.

The suit filed by the city asks that a permanent injunction be issued against the Bowdens and that the city be awarded costs and attorney's fees.

R-1 zoning authorizes and permits the use of dwellings. Mobile Home 1 zoning authorizes and permits the use of mobile home. Neither zoning ordinance authorizes or permits the use of recreational vehicles (RVs) as defined in the ordinances or the operation of a business.

City personnel said the defendants are using the lot for renting out spaces for RVs which is not authorized by either of the two zoning ordinances regulating the lot and is in violation of the city's adopted zoning ordinances.