Conflict Remains Between Hartman Water Department And Spadra

by Stephanie Baker

The Hartman City Council met on Monday, July 14, at which time Mayor Jackie Weathers announced no payment had been received from the Spadra Goose Camp Water Association for water provided or for its debt to the Hartman Water Department since the previous month’s meeting, bringing its current debt to $45,969.

Weathers explained he had contacted the Association regarding the unpaid bill, and was told the delay was due to an employee’s absence for a family emergency. In the days since the communication, payment was yet to be received by the water department.

Weathers stated the city’s lawyer had already sent a letter to the Association to establish a repayment plan, and if no response or agreement was received within the stated 10-day window, a lawsuit would proceed.

“We cannot afford to continue losing $1,000 or more a month,” said Alderman Earnest Tillery.

Weathers agreed, stating the ongoing situation was taking a toll on the Hartman Water Department and its financials.

Much discussion followed regarding the potential shut-off of the Spadra community’s water, which would affect paying customers and three chicken house operations.

The aldermen continued to discuss options, debating whether customers should be notified, especially agriculture ones who may have stake in the situation, as they may only have 24 to 48 hours of backup water supply for their animals. Weathers said a shutoff would not occur without a final written notice.

Alderman Dondi Elkins stated the community should already be well aware of the matter and it was “a shame” they had not already received that information. He expressed his frustration with The Graphic for its “lack of coverage” on the matter, explaining he believed the newspaper has directly contributed to a lack of public knowledge and concern over the situation and its financial consequences.

Elkins repeatedly stated The Graphic has failed to provide adequate information on the situation, noting “a large notice of the debt should be placed on the front page of The Graphic to further inform the community of the gravity of the matter,” listing the amount of the growing debt, and a warning of potential shutoffs.

Elkins threatened at one point to purchase The Graphic, after voicing his frustration with not being able to control where certain items, including legal notices and Hartman City Council stories, are placed in its pages.

When asked to respond to a direct question during the meeting about how an alderman could voice an opinion on the matter for publication, it was recommended a Letter to the Editor be submitted. Guidelines on how to submit a Letter to the Editor can be found at www.thegraphic.org/letter-to-the-editor/.

Even if the Association’s current debt was bought out by another party, without a drastic change from the Association, the pattern of debt will continue, said Weathers, who explained he did not believe Spadra is bringing in enough money to cover its expenses, contributing to its growing debt to Hartman and other parties.

Spadra has not yet received a water rate study, which would enforce the raising of rates to cover the Association’s expenses, reported Weathers.

Weathers was adamant the Council follow the plan set out by the lawyer to avoid any compromise in the case.

If no contact or agreement is made within the 10-day window, the Council will continue with a lawsuit. Once a judgment is received, the Council may then shut off the Association’s water after issuing a 30- to 60-day written notice to its customers, who have continued to pay their water bills throughout this time.

Weathers explained action would have been taken sooner by the state if Spadra was a city, but as a community with a water association, some technicalities apply.

Weathers reminded the Council the city was in the 10-day response window and will either have an agreement or a lawsuit by the end of the month.

Editor’s Note: Stories on Hartman City Council, including the Spadra water issue, have appeared monthly in The Graphic and will continue to be published each month. Past stories may be found in the archives at wwwthegraphic.org. The conflict between the Hartman Water Department and the Spadra-Goose Camp Water Association has been a headlining story on the front page of The Graphic six times. The topic has been included in coverage of 21 regular and two special meetings of the Hartman City Council, since The Graphic resumed monthly in-person coverage in April 2023.

The full story appears in the July 23 edition of The Graphic, found online and in businesses throughout Johnson and Franklin counties.