The Mt. Carmel City Council has decided no exceptions will be made for a Mt. Carmel woman who was looking to replace her aging mobile home with a newer one in the 900 block of East 5th Street.

The problem is, Patty Courtright’s new mobile home was still more than 15 years old. City ordinance prohibits mobile homes older than 15 years old from being placed in any area other than a trailer park.

At the May 1st meeting, Courtright explained she had already purchased the mobile home before checking into the ordinance. She said she sunk her life savings into the purchase and would be unable to get her money back. Courtright said her husband is in poor health and the newer mobile home was needed so EMT’s could better navigate the narrow hallway of the previous one.

But, at this past Monday’s meeting, city attorney Derek McCullough said the ordinance offered the council no wiggle room in making an exception in an individual case. He said the council would have to change the ordinance in order to accommodate Courtright. Something the council chose not to do leaving a dejected Courtright with no other recourse.