Mobile home park owner Havenpark agrees to in-person meeting with Johnson County Supervisors

IOWA CITY — Utah-based Havenpark Communities, owner of mobile home parks across Johnson County, has agreed to an in-person meeting with the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

Earlier this month, the board requested an in-person public meeting with Havenpark, after months of letters back and forth between the two entities.

Johnson County Residents United, a group that advocates for safe conditions in mobile home parks, has voiced concerns over rent increases, questionable water quality and poor park maintenance at Havenpark-owned properties. The group also has pushed for a two-year rent increase moratorium, but Havenpark has not agreed to it.

The supervisors got involved in May, at the request of the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition — which works with Johnson County Residents United — after the groups said communication with Havenpark had been inconsistent.

Throughout the back and forth with the supervisors, Havenpark has said it addressed resident concerns with $2.1 million in improvements, and more on the way, across Sunrise Village, Modern Manor and Lake Ridge Estates.

“We value your invitation to meet and share your goal of open dialogue,” Havenpark Senior Vice President of Operations Jerry Fenstermaker wrote in a letter to the board. “At this time, however, we believe that a private meeting with you and the Board of Supervisors would provide the most productive setting for a candid and solution-focused discussion. This format will allow for a direct exchange of information and a clearer path toward next steps.”

The Board of Supervisors has formally acknowledged receipt of the letter but has yet to discuss a response to Havenpark. The supervisors have previously said that they would like members of Johnson County Residents United to be present at any meeting the board has with Havenpark.

Meetings of the board of supervisors are subject to Iowa’s open meeting laws, which limit the reasons a meeting can be held in closed session.

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com

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