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Time ticking, money running low for Ringwood families evacuated from sinkhole threat

Thursday, December 9, 2010
Last updated: Thursday December 9, 2010, 8:21 AM

BY HANNAN ADELY

The Record

STAFF WRITER

RINGWOOD — Four years after Thomas and Jeanine Mann were evacuated from their home when a sinkhole opened up on their land, they face eviction from their rented apartment.

The borough says it can't continue to pay the Manns' rent, for which the bill now exceeds $30,000. The Manns were told by the local government that they must leave their apartment by Dec. 31. Beyond that, Borough Manager Scott Heck said he does not know what will happen. He hopes the matter is resolved by then.

"It's the holiday season, and we're not going to be throwing them out into the street," Heck said. "But by the same respect, there needs to be an end in sight."

FAST FACTS

The Department of Community Affairs has agreed to give Ringwood $353,200 to settle financial and property issues at two homes where sinkholes were found. The breakdown:

* 27 Van Dunk Lane: $85,000 for mortgage and $35,000 for financial settlement

* 23 Van Dunk Lane: $165,000 for mortgage

* The balance of the money was earmarked for relocation costs, utility costs and for demolition, restoration and fencing.

Jeanine Mann, however, remains adamant: "The only thing I told [borough officials] was, 'I want a permanent home and a roof over my children's head,' " said Mann, who shares a two-bedroom rental apartment in Riverdale with her husband and two children.

For now, the family is holding out for more money and doesn't plan any legal action, but they are worried about where they're going to live.

Beyond the loss of rent payment, the Manns may get less money for their home than they expected.

The Manns are one of three Upper Ringwood families who discovered sinkholes on their property in 2005 and 2006. In 2009, Ringwood officials had $400,000 in grants from the Department of Community Affairs to split between two families who were displaced: Jeanine and Tommy Mann from 27 Van Dunk Lane, and Tommy's brother, Rodney Mann, who lived at 23 Van Dunk.

The grant had been earmarked for mortgage payments, home demolition costs and payouts to the families.

Last year, the DCA commissioner at the time, Joseph Doria, said the two displaced families should expect $120,000 apiece in financial settlements, even as borough officials said the sum was unrealistic due to mortgage and demolition costs.

Then the offer kept dropping. In September, Mann said, Ringwood officials offered her a $95,000 payout.

In October, the DCA told borough officials that the grant would be lowered to $365,000 and that the Manns should get just $35,000 in a financial settlement. The DCA also directed the borough to use part of the grant for rent reimbursements.

The $35,000 was based on the amount of payout that Rodney Mann got from his insurance company, said DCA spokeswoman Lisa Ryan.

"We believe the two properties in question are similar. Therefore, we cannot justify an increased property settlement from 27 Van Dunk, especially from state funds," Ryan said.

At one time, the land under the homes in the Upper Ringwood neighborhood, which was once an iron ore mining community, was owned by the borough, and the houses were built with federal grants. Legally, though, the problem is the homeowners' responsibility, borough officials say.

Hoping to reach a settlement on the long-standing issue, Ringwood has offered to pay an additional $23,000 out of its own funds.

But Jeanine Mann said that sum — a total of $58,000 — was too low.

"They should be obligated to replace my home," she said. "They disturbed my whole household and living standard."

E-mail: adely@northjersey.com