The 90-day eviction moratorium that was put in place just over a month ago to assist renters in the city of Indianola no longer exists as of Monday night.
The provision was added to the city’s emergency proclamation at the first Board of Aldermen meeting in August.
Mayor Steve Rosenthal expressed his dismay that the moratorium was being removed and stated that he had already helped at least six tenants who were six months behind on their rent get approved to get caught up for those months.
He also stated that those landlords will get the next six months paid up.
"So they'll get caught up and continue for six more months. So, at least six people got some benefits out of it," he said.
Sighting the Supreme Court's recent decision regarding the CDC enacting a moratorium that it was reportedly not authorized to do, City Attorney Kimberly Merchant said, "The CDC, without Congress's enactment, really doesn't have the authority, at least that's the opinion of the Supreme Court, so as such, the housing moratorium no longer exists and so I recommend that we remove that from our current proclamation."
In addition to the remarks on the moratorium, Rosenthal also mentioned the nationally imposed mandate that affects employers with 100 or more employees. It requires that the employers ensure that their workers are fully vaccinated.
Rosenthal speculated on whether or not that mandate should be adopted as part of the city's emergency order.
"It is a federal mandate, but not just for federal employees. It says all employers over a hundred," Rosenthal said.
Merchant said that she would review the national order and get back with them at the next meeting.
Aside from removing the moratorium, no other changes where made to the emergency proclamation. Everything else stands as is.
