Couple's Gay Pride Flag Can Stay; Eviction Notice Rescinded

OAK CREEK, WI -- An Oak Creek couple's Gay Pride American flag can stay, after all.

Kevin Kollman and his partner, Merle Malterer, rent an apartment at the Country Oaks Apartments, located just south of Puetz Rd. and just west of Howell Ave. in Oak Creek.

The couple said they received an eviction notice in the mail from their landlord if they did not take their gay pride American flag down from their apartment.

According to a Fox 6-TV report, the couple said the original notice from their apartment management company, Bieck Managment, Inc. ordered them to take the flag down within five days or face eviction because flying the flag violates a condition in their lease that bans apartment residents from exterior decorating.

Fox 6 also reported that the couple had to take down a Green Bay Packers flag in January over the same lease agreement issue.

"I don't think he backed down, I think he saw that we all belong here," said Kollman in a CBS 58-TV report late Monday.

Later on Monday, Bieck Management, Inc. sent them an update to the original eviction notice, effectively canceling it. In the letter, officials said they're allowing the couple to fly their flag with the intention of updating the property's decoration policy.

Firstly, the five-day notice issued to you last week on March 25 has been rescinded. No further action will be taken regarding your flag. Your flag may remain.

We will be discussing a new Country Oaks flag policy going forward that allows flags to be flown that meet certain guidelines such as size, placement, location, etc. I would appreciate your input into this new policy, so perhaps we could meet sometime in the near future to discuss. No matter the final policy, we will make every effort to grandfather your present flag in its current location.

Finally thank you for you past, present, and future occupancy at Country Oaks. We will continue to strive to keep Country Oaks a preferred home for everyone.