The Justice Department is reviewing charges that officials in the Millard County community of Holden discriminated against Indians when they blocked sale of a house to the Piute Housing Authority.
FBI agents also referred to the Justice Department allegations that one official uttered a racist remark to an Indian at a public meeting.Special agent James T. Screen said the Justice Department will decide whether to prosecute for alleged civil-rights violations in the town of 400.
The case stems from allegations that members of the City Council blocked the sale of a home to the Piute Housing Authority, a Housing and Urban Development agency set up to buy housing for rental to Piutes and other Indians.
The officials, in denying the purchase, reportedly argued that the town would lose tax revenues.
Councilwoman Mary Johnson said Thursday, "I wouldn't really care to comment." Mayor C.R. Charlesworth could not be reached for comment.
"It (the tax revenue the city would lose) was a small amount of money," said Jack Sawyer, project director for the housing authority in Cedar City. The taxes amounted to $27 a year, he said.
"Although it's not worth fighting over, we felt like things were said that probably should not have been said" at the council meeting when the sale was denied in August, Sawyer said.
Sawyer said angry words were spoken to "an Indian person going into a public meeting and being humiliated."
Sawyer said the authority has 30 homes in Cedar City and other contracts were signed with St. George and Enoch.