Parsons city commissioners delayed until mid-January further discussion and possible action on allowing someone to live in an RV unit permanently in the city or following zoning law and denying it.
The commission was scheduled to discuss the matter Monday but delayed discussion until the Jan. 16 work session. Four commissioners attended Monday’s meeting; the woman at the center of the RV issue did not attend. Commissioners Tom Shaw, Kevin Cruse, Eric Strait and Verlyn Bolinger discussed the issue at Thursday’s work session last week. Shaw said the four appeared to be split on the matter and may need the fifth commissioner, Leland Crooks, to break a possible tie.
Current zoning law does not allow a person to live permanently in an RV in the city.
Linda Philbrick did not know this and had been living in an RV on her son’s property at 1106 S. 14th St. since March 2023. The city’s code enforcement officer in July 2023 placed a notice on the property saying the RV violated zoning rules. Philbrick contacted the city and the issue came before the city commission in mid-October 2023.
Daniel Jones, Philbrick’s son, helps her live independently on his property and helps care for her. She has said she is disabled and has health issues, and the RV holds the last of her possessions after her husband died in 2022.
In October 2023, city commissioners told Philbrick she could continue to live in the RV while her living arrangement went through the planners and the commission. Since then, Jones has followed recommendations from city staff on winterizing the RV and making other improvements, including connecting it to Jones’ water, sewer and electrical service.
Last week, Shaw and Cruse said they want to follow zoning rules that don’t allow such living arrangements, but they would want to give Philbrick until spring before enforcing the zoning restriction. Bolinger and Strait wanted to follow the zoning rules but also wanted to find a way for Philbrick’s living situation to continue.
City Attorney Ross Albertini said the commission could follow the recommendation of the planners, which is to keep the RV restriction in place, or override them. If overriding the planners, the question then would become how to amend zoning regulations or create a process to allow Philbrick to continue to live on her son’s property. The issue is complicated because others are living in RVs in the city and they may not have followed all the temporary modifications the city imposed on Philbrick and Jones.
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Cruse noted if commissioners make an exception for Philbrick, they need to make an exception for everybody. He said he does not want to allow such living arrangements.
“We’re walking on a slippery slope here,” Cruse said. He said the living arrangement shouldn’t have been allowed in the first place.
“I’m not moving on this. … I’ve drew my line in the sand,” Cruse said. He said that once the commission decides the matter, the city staff must enforce it.
“If not, then the hammer will fall, and it won’t fall on this board. It will fall on staff.”
Bolinger and Strait said they weren’t willing to kick Philbrick out of the RV. Shaw said the situation was unfortunate but he said city staff could allow her to remain in the RV until the weather warms up.
“We’re in a tough pickle. I wouldn’t feel good in my heart if we didn’t try,” Bolinger said.
Commissioners set Jan. 21 as the time to discuss the issue again.
In other matters, commissioners: — Elected Bolinger as mayor and Cruse as president of the board.
— Moved the Jan. 20 meeting to Jan. 21 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
