The Mason City Human Rights Commission filed a petition on Friday morning in Cerro Gordo County District Court against the owner and manager of Gracious Estates mobile home park in Mason City, alleging discrimination against residents there.|
A Cerro Gordo County District Court judge set a hearing for January 14th at 10:00 AM on a petition brought forward by the Mason City Human Rights Commission (MCHRC) Thursday morning against the owner and manager of Gracious Estates mobile home park in Mason City.
Ken Brenton, owner, and Melissa Noland, manager were both named in the complaint, and the Mason City Human Rights Commission filed the petition on behalf of all residents of Gracious Estates.
The petition alleges that Brenton and Noland discriminated against residents with disabilities or due to their familial status.
The petition says that residents Kathy Van Horn and Gemini Joyce contacted the MCHRC regarding adverse treatment their families were receiving at Gracious Estates and inquired about filing a complaint of familial status discrimination. The MCHRC attempted to conduct an investigation and the respondents (Brenton and Noland) made no response.
The petition is seeking an injunction that would limit all water and sewer bills to $30 per month and the suspension of all termination proceedings (evictions) for residents residing at Gracious Estates.
Kathy Van Horn and other Gracious Estates residents had come before the City Council weeks ago seeking City help with their water bills and other complaints they had with management at Gracious Estates.
NorthIowaToday.com was contacted earlier this week by two residents at Gracious Estates who told of water service that was arbitrarily shut off to the home of Gemini Joyce. Vicki Hearn and Bobby Van Every told NorthIowaToday.com that management at Gracious Estates turned off water service and removed some pipes that served the water, to Lot #71 where Joyce lives with her two children.
