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County Moves To Foreclose On Dilaptidated Campground

    Lake County is seeking to take over the Chisholm Trail campground in North Lake County after ongoing problems with substandard living conditions and a variety of code violations have failed to be corrected.  The Lake County Commission on Tuesday, July 14, voted to begin foreclosure proceedings on the longtime campground that has fallen into disrepair over the years.
    Chisholm Trail lies along SR 19 in the Pittman area of Altoona, and is home to several dozen campsites with units dating back decades in age. Many have fallen into disrepair along with the campground’s utility infrastructure.  A recent health department inspection found what is believed to be raw sewage flowing on the ground.  A close inspection of the site’s wastewater treatment facility was unable to be  undertaken due to foliage overgrowth.  The property owner has been noticed of the need to clear the area of overgrowth so a proper inspection can be undertaken.
    The property entered a county code violation protocol in 2024, and to date has accrued an estimated $43,000 in unpaid fines.   An inspection earlier this month found black and grey water on the ground, bad roads, rodents, and expired  health department permitting among other issues.
    “It’s despicable,” said commission chair Leslie Campione, who has toured the facility and reported a foul smell.  “It smelled like sewage.  The idea that people are living in these conditions…”.
    Commissioner Anthony Sabatini urged foreclosure as a way for the county to best assist low-income residents in the area.
    “I believe we should move for foreclosure and assist the families.”
    Campione agreed.
    “You’ve got to start somewhere.” Campione said the county could coordinate affordable housing program options to bring better conditions to the residents.  “It wouldn’t be housing that is in a slum condition.”
    Campione urged commissioners to pursue foreclosure over other options that included the county cleaning up the site and adding that cost to current amounts due.  There was fear among members, however, that the site could just revert back to its current condition after the county spent what could be upwards of $20,000 or more to clean the area up.
    The property owner was at the meeting and stated some of the mess on the estimated five acre property was from improper dumping by non residents and abandoned property left by former residents.  He also stated it was hard to evict residents who were keeping substandard lot sites as long as they were paying monthly rent.
    There was broad support among commissioners to take an aggressive stance on the issue, with only commissioner Kirby Smith proposing giving the property owner more time to bring the campground into compliance.  However, Smith eventually joined the majority to make the motion to foreclose unanimous.