Attorney General's News Release

July 20, 2001

Nixon sues owners of Jasper County mobile home park over ongoing water pollution problems

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today filed a lawsuit in Jasper County Circuit Court against two Carthage men for continued violations of Missouri water pollution laws at a mobile home park they own that discharges sewage to an unnamed tributary of Center Creek.

The defendants, George Bennett Wilson and George Bennett Wilson III, own Westgate Mobile Home Park, which is also known as Los Amigos Mobile Home Park. The park, which serves 24 trailers, is located near the junction of County Road 176 and Old Highway 66, between Carthage and Brooklyn Heights.

Nixon said the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has cited the Wilsons on several previous occasions in the past three years for discharging wastewater without a permit and for exceeding state standards for various pollutants. In February, the DNR authorized the defendants to construct upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility at the mobile home park, but no such construction has begun.

"The DNR has tried to work with these defendants in the past to bring them into compliance with the law, but to no avail," Nixon said. "A lawsuit is the next step to compel the Wilsons to stop these pollution violations."

The lawsuit asks the Jasper County Circuit Court to order the defendants to complete the upgrades needed to bring their facility into compliance with the law and to meet all state standards for water pollution standards. Nixon also is asking the court to assess civil penalties against the Wilsons of up to $10,000 per day per violation and to pay any other investigative, prosecution or court costs of the case.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818