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Politics & Government

County, Landowner Close To Resolving Water and Sewer Dispute

Oconee County and Georgia General Kipling Land, LLC may reach an agreement on an outstanding water and sewer balance for the Pinewoods Estates South Mobile Home park property by the end of this week, according to officials.

Oconee County officials and the owner of a mobile home park are on the verge of an agreement that from having to go without water in January.

Oconee County Administrative Officer Alan Theriault told residents of the Pinewood Estates South mobile home park at a meeting Monday he was “cautiously optimistic” that Oconee County and the landowner, Georgia General Kipling Land, would reach an agreement on a water and sewer billing dispute by the end of this week or early next week.

“I am extremely optimistic - but cautious - that we can have this situation resolved by the end of this week,” Theriault said. “We are in constant communications with Georgia General Kipling and I think I can sum it up by saying we are very, very close.”

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In April Oconee County filed suit against Georgia General Kipling seeking more than $150,000 in unpaid bills and fees, and without payment county officials say they were forced to shut off water service to the mobile home park on Jan. 13 if the dispute remained unsolved.

Georgia General Kipling for service and has countersued.

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To keep the water on, the county proposes Georgia General Kipling deposit $83,566.65 into an escrow account or Registry of the Court pending resolution of the lawsuits, pay an additional $20,000 into that account against future billings and pay future water bills as they become due directly to the Utility Department and sewer bills into the account.

Meantime, residents say they continue to pay their monthly water and sewer bills directly to their landlord.

Monday's meeting was the about the possible water shutoff and legal matter.

The news of a possible settlement did little to ease residents' fears of losing their homes, not fully knowing yet what steps they should take to best protect themselves and their families in case an agreement isn't reached.

“What are we to do if they turn our water off on the 13th ? Have you put any thought into it? What are we with children going to do with such cold? I mean where are we going to go live? Under a bridge?” one man asked through the aide of a translator.

At times, others had questions better suited for the landowner of the park, who was not in attendance.

“Why didn't he let us know he was behind - that he was in arrears?” one woman asked. “Why didn't he think that we have children who have needs and we need to use the water to bathe, to brush our teeth to wash our clothes? Where does all this stand because we don't owe him anything. I think he should come and show us more tact in this situation as we are human beings.”

County officials say they've done everything in their power to keep from shutting off the water, but have run out of options and the county can't continue to provide the service for free.

“It's frustrating for me to sit up here and not give you the answers that you want to hear,” Theriault said. “But I can't tell you what you want to hear. I can only tell you what we are doing and how we're trying to solve this as diligently as we can so water will not have to be turned off to Georgia General Kipling.”

Theriault declined to provide any specifics about the negotiations, but said residents and their attorney would be notified as soon as an agreement is reached.

Adam Cain, who is representing the residents, said after the meeting he planned to wait for a response from the county's attorney on a possible settlement before discussing options with his clients.

“We know of legal options we could do, but we don't want to interrupt any negotiations that the county is doing at this point,” Cain said. “If they do work out the details with it, the tenants will have other legal options against the LLC Kipling regarding water bill issues that will be addressed at a later date in time. Now the main goal is to keep the water on.”

Tonight at 6 p.m., residents and supporters have planned an hour-long Chain of Lights protest_ at the former entrance to the mobile home park to draw attention to the water shutoff and what will happen to them if the county and landowner can't reach an agreement, according to an article in the Athens Banner-Herald.

County Attorney Daniel Haygood told Lee Becker of Oconee County Observations the Board of Commissioners plans to meet Wednesday to consider a possible agreement.  Board members would discuss the matter in an executive session and afterward make an announcement in regular session, according to the Oconee County Observations report. 

The meeting has been scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 14.

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