Residents who raised complaints about crime and neglect at a senior living complex in Tarrant received some relief Wednesday when managers announced that a planned rate hike is on hold.

Lowell Barron, founder of Vantage Management, the company that owns the Flats at Colebridge, told residents at a community meeting today that he heard their concerns about security, safety and cleanliness. He told them to disregard a previous notice of rent increases as high as $150 per month.

“I want to be here to make sure everybody’s voice gets heard and their feelings get expressed,” Barron told the crowd.

Last month, AL.com published an article and a video detailing resident complaints. Tempers flared at a community meeting last month when residents filled the community room to detail their concerns about neglect and poor management at the independent living complex for people 55 and older.

At a follow-up meeting today, Barron announced that the company hired a new cleaning company, added a hotline for residents to report concerns to senior management and increased security. The outer doors are now locked, requiring visitors to be buzzed in.

“One of the major concerns of the tenants was a proposed increase in the rent, which has been postponed for now,” said Fredrick Hamilton, Jefferson County’s director of community services. “There remain some concerns from the tenants about improving security, pest control, and cleaning the facility. Vantage Management has agreed to continue to look for ways of improvement.”

Hamilton said his office would have to approve any rent increases, as Vantage received public funding through the county to help construct the 56-unit complex in 2016.

The company received tax credits through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and low-interest financing through the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The Jefferson County Department of Community Services oversees the HOME program locally.

Hamilton said he reached out to Vantage after leaving about ongoing resident complaints, including the proposed rent increases. Today, he said he’s pleased that Vantage has made progress to address tenant concerns.

“I will continue to communicate with Vantage Management to ensure the remaining concerns of the tenants are addressed,” Hamilton told AL.com after the meeting.

Both tenants and Vantage must continue action to improve safety, security, and quality of life at the complex, said longtime resident Novillee Williams. For example, she said residents should control access to the building by denying stranger’s access. She also complained that some neighbors refuse to comply with community standards of courtesy, safety, and cleanliness.

“We’ve got people in here who should’ve been put out,” Williams said.

Danny Threatt, who became an unofficial spokesperson for frustrated residents, said he was pleased to see action from Vantage, but he was adamant that the managers should hire a security company to protect the building.

“We do need a security person here in this community. I don’t want to see anybody hurt,” he said, adding that he has seen trespassers crawl underneath the security gate. “I’m not going to change what I said about security needing to be in this building.”

When asked if he had called police when seeing trespassers, Threatt said no, prompting Barron to urge residents to help by making reports of questionable to law enforcement when they occur.

Regarding increased security, Zac Plumstead, a vice president for Vantage Management Group, said other measures are on the table, but not likely on-site patrol.

“I don’t like it either, but it’s the truth,” Plumstead said. “A full time security guard is not in the budget.”

Mayor Wayman Newton, who organized the first resident meeting last month, urged both sides to continue working together in good faith to improve the complex.

“If they are working toward the goals of addressing your issues, you’ve got to extend them some grace,” he told residents. “I feel hopeful, and I’m glad we were able to hold these meetings, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Following the meeting, Threatt remained cautiously optimistic about the future.

“Everything is not about money all the time. What about people’s lives?” he told AL.com “I think things are somewhat getting better. We’ll take it one bite at a time.”