Lawsuit filed over veterans’ access to campsite

We've got some veterans that have joined forces with a Lake Vermillion landowner to fight St. Louis County over what the vets want to use as a charity campsite. A three-year battle has now landed in St. Paul's Federal Courthouse. Our Corrin Hoggard was there and he shows us why the county doesn't want them to pitch their tents. For a few years now, Air Force veteran Nick Rahn has taken fellow vets hiking, climbing and camping in Colorado. His Warriors Next Adventure trips are designed to deliver fun and function. It's been shown time and time again that recreational therapy is healing for veterans and doing it together, we get that camaraderie back, we get that adventure back, we get that purpose that we all get from each other as well. The trips can get costly though, so Rahn was thrilled to learn about a place in St. Louis County where he could take groups for just the cost of food and gas. Roughing it is at least 20 acres next to Lake Vermillion's Black Bay. Rowboats, kayaks, stuff that they can get out and really enjoy nature in this remote area. But the county does not want Christine Weirebeck operating a campsite at the location, which is zoned residential. She initially advertised the space for rent and offered a deep discount to veterans. Neighbors complained and the county said she violated their ordinances by operating it as a commercial property. And even after Weirebeck said she'd limit its use to veterans staying for free, commissioners voted in September to authorize a lawsuit against her if she did not shut it down. And we'll use that authority if we need to use it, and if we don't need to use it, rest assured, we won't. Weirebeck closed up shop and the county never filed a lawsuit. But she sued down. She says the ordinance allows her to temporarily have four tents on a residential property and by blocking disabled veterans from using it, they're violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The county argued she could have appealed the board's decision and she hasn't proved any injury to the veterans. Weirebeck says the damage is preventing the next adventure for Ron and his fellow warriors, so she'll keep up the pressure. We don't plan on going away. We plan on continuing this fight for our veterans. They deserve it. They'll have a better idea of where the battle's headed next by the end of the week when the judge makes a ruling. In St. Paul, Coren Hoggart, Fox 9.