Mold at root of dispute

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Mold at root of dispute

In-Forum - Fargo,ND

J. Shane Mercer, The Forum

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A dark line runs several inches up one corner of Debbie Holbrook's

Moorhead apartment. There's a dark substance along a few inches of

one baseboard, around the air conditioning unit, on the windowsill,

under the kitchen sink and on the wall.

Holbrook believes it's mold.

She has lived in the apartment at 515½ 30th Ave. S. since February

2003 and said she experiences migraine headaches " all day long " and

has difficulty breathing.

Also, a couple of years ago two unused electrical outlets in the

apartment caught on fire, Holbrook said. She said the electrician

who fixed the problem reported that there was water in the walls.

Lynn Brown, Moorhead Neighborhood Services code compliance

technician, examined the apartment

May 16 and found a " sizable hole in the ceiling, " a patch job that

is beginning to break up, mold in several places and evidence of a

water leak down the wall.

Neighborhood Services sent a letter May 21 to Ahmad Orandi in care

of Fergus Enterprises, which manages the property. The letter states

that the apartment is not to be occupied until the city is provided

with documentation from licensed professionals stating that the

structure and electrical system are sound and do not " present any

life safety hazards. "

The unit has been ordered to be vacated by Thursday. The letter

states that the unit may not be occupied again until management

alleviates the water problems that are damaging the apartment, the

mold is cleaned and the apartment inspected.

Brown spoke to some tenants in the complex and left her contact

information for others. She said she has not received any other

complaints, and therefore has no reason to be concerned about the

rest of the building.

Holbrook said she complained to management about the mold in the

apartment on several occasions.

Fergus Enterprises Management Supervisor Tom Hiedeman said he does

not know when Holbrook first reported the problem to management, but

said he did not get word of the problem until recently. Efforts to

speak with on-site manager Mike Severson were unsuccessful.

Holbrook provided The Forum with a June 9, 2004, letter signed by

Leah and addressed to Fergus Enterprises. Holbrook said

was her case worker at Lakeland Mental Health Center in

Moorhead.

The letter states that Holbrook spoke with about needed

apartment repairs, including " mold growing on her walls. " It should

be noted that the greeting of the letter is to a " Marilyn, "

not " Tom. "

Hiedeman said Holbrook covered her windows with plastic. He believes

the resulting humidity and lack of ventilation contributed to the

mold problem.

A May 2 letter signed by Hiedeman and provided to The Forum by

Holbrook asked her to vacate the apartment. Holbrook said she

complained about the mold to Bridges, a housing assistance program

administered by Moorhead Public Housing.

She also contacted the city and The Forum. She believes she is being

told to leave as a result of those complaints. She said she was

never asked to leave before she began complaining.

Hiedeman said Holbrook was asked to leave because she was breaking

the rules of the lease, and that it had nothing to do with her

complaints.

An April 18 letter, also provided to The Forum by Holbrook, quotes

the apartment's " pet policy " as stating: " Tenants … shall sign a pet

addendum for each pet. This includes paying a pet deposit for each

pet and the monthly rent increased by $25.00 per pet … NO visiting

pet is to stay in the unit without previous approval from the

management. "

The May 2 letter mentions " extra people " in the apartment.

Holbrook's adult son, Steve Holbrook, has been staying with her to

help because she is sick, she said. But she said he does not live

there. Steve Holbrook said he has normally stayed there two to three

nights a week. All unmarried adults living in the apartments are

required to pay a deposit, Hiedeman said. He said he was contacted

with a report of at least one extra adult at the residence.

He also said his resident manager reported extra cars in the parking

lot nightly, which the manager believed belonged to individuals

staying with Holbrook.

Holbrook's son also has a dog that has stayed there off and on. And

her younger son has a lizard. Though her apartment is pet-approved,

Holbrook did not get prior approval for the animal occupancies.

Regardless, with the unit condemned, Holbrook has to leave, and

Hiedeman said problems with the apartment will be addressed.

" As soon as she's out, that will be done, " Hiedeman said.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Shane Mercer at (701) 451-5734