City of Yellville files injunction against woman living in storage shed, man providing electricity

Pictures requested from the City of Yellville

The City of Yellville has filed an injunction against a woman who is living in a storage shed, which is against city code, and a man who is providing electricity to her. The injunction lists Cassandra Meyer, who lives at 924 N. Wickersham, and David Ellis, her neighbor, as defendants. Meyer has been living in the storage shed for nearly two and a half years, has been getting trash service without paying for it and receiving electricity from her neighbor through an extension cord all while in violation of city code according to the injunction.

The injunction, which was filed by City Attorney Christopher Carter, says Meyer applied for a building permit in August of 2022 for a storage building. The permit did not indicate the building would be used for housing. The property is zone R-1. In Yellville, mobile homes and manufactured homes are prohibited in R-1 zoned areas. The building Meyer purchased was built by Derksen and does not meet the City of Yellville’s building codes for a house.

Meyer eventually moved more buildings onto her property leading the city to revoke her building permit it issued in 2022 as it was non-conforming and they further rejected every other application for permits submitted for her other Derksen buildings.

Meyer continued to live in and move more of the buildings onto her property over the next two and a half years despite being told by former Mayor Shawn Lane, planning and zoning officials, the District Court and City of Yellville building officials  she could not do this and it was in violation of city ordinances. The city never issued a certificate of occupancy, therefore water, sewer, trash service or electricity are not eligible for home use for Meyer’s property.

Meyer did contact Waste Management and they delivered a tote (trashcan) Meyer has been using without payment to the city.

The city cited Meyer in District Court in early 2023 and Meyer was found guilty and was given 30 days to comply with the City of Yellville’s zoning ordinance but never did.

The injunction notes Meyer has since moved additional storage buildings onto the property.

In the court filing, the city says they could continue to cite Meyer in District Court, but that will not ultimately resolve the issue and remove the offending structures, therefore a permanent injunction is necessary.

They are asking the Circuit Court to prevent Meyer, or any person, from living on the property until such time a home is constructed there, and water and sewer and electricity are connected according to city ordinances. They are also asking for Meyer to remove all of the portable buildings, trash, pets and human or animal excrement from the property at her expense within three days of any court ruling; if she doesn’t, the city can be authorized to do so and the costs be taxed as a lien against the property; and should Meyer return to the property and stay overnight, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office be authorized to arrest her for contempt of court.

The City of Yellville is also including Meyer’s neighbor David Ellis in the injunction for running electricity to her “illegal encampment.”

The city has an ordinance that allows it to receive 4% of gross revenues collected by the electric company serving the city. The injunction says by supplying electricity to Meyer, Ellis not only assists Meyer’s violation of the city ordinances, but deprives the city of revenue because all Entergy customers must pay a customer fee even if they use little electricity.

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