New Kaplan mobile home park not getting any love

KAPLAN — The Kaplan Aldermen are not too happy with the contractor Ricky LeBlanc, who is building a mobile home park in Legion Park near the Kaplan Cemetary.
The mobile home park will probably never happen because the aldermen are about to put the brakes on the project altogether.
Months ago, LeBlanc approached Mayor Kloesel and the aldermen about putting mobile homes in Legion Park, initially developed for homes.
However, that idea never took off, and the subdivision sat empty.
LeBlanc’s idea was a mobile home park, but the land was zoned for no mobile home parks. However, LeBlanc convinced the Mayor and aldermen that he planned to develop a first-class mobile home park.
His sales pitch was so good that the aldermen voted to change the zone and allow a mobile home park to be developed.
Over the last few months, Kaplan residents,
including the Mayor and aldermen, have noticed mobile homes being hauled into Legion Park. The mobile homes did not make a good first impression.
At last week’s city council meeting, the aldermen and Mayor discussed the possibility of rezoning Legion Park, or not allowing a mobile home park to be developed.
“I am not impressed with what they dragged over there,” said Alderman Justin Johnson. “I feel that we were doubled crossed. I am looking for answers.”
Mayor Kloesel and town attorney Woody Woodruff met with LeBlanc and told him the town is already getting complaints about the mobile homes that were moved into Legion Park.
“They are sleeping quarters from oil rigs,” said Mayor Kloesel.
Mayor Kloesel informed LeBlanc that if the mobile home park does not meet the town’s standards, the town will not provide Legion Park with electricity.
Alderman Mike Rhenfrow has received phone calls from upset residents. The mobile homes are in his district.
“He (LeBlanc) is not going to make a fool out of me again,” said Rhenfrow. “I am hard against it. I will start next month the process of rezoning.”