Residents of McLendon-Chisolm are cautiously optimistic that city council disputes jeopardizing their water service may soon be resolved after receiving an update from the mayor about the issue.
Mayor Bryan McNeal held a town hall meeting Wednesday night to address residents’ concerns and answer questions about the status of a lawsuit filed against the city by one of their suppliers, RCH Water, after four council members voted to cancel the city’s water agreement with the company.
McLendon-Chisolm is a fast-growing city of about 6,000 people in Rockwall County, just east of Dallas.
City residents receive water from three suppliers: RCH, Blackland, and High Point. RCH serves the Sonoma Verde subdivision.
The controversy started in September, when the six-member city council split 4-2 on a vote to cancel the city’s water service agreement with RCH. Residents were worried about the company’s inability to adequately supply the community and other service issues. Some council members also raised concerns about RCH possibly using city property as collateral for a bank loan.
Council Members Paul Day, Michael Easter, Floyd McLendon, and Dan Tucker voted to terminate the RCH contract.
Mayor McNeal and Council Member Jerry Brewer opposed the move.
“This was done against the advice of our city attorney, against the advice of our city water attorney, and without any solid backup plan in place,” resident Dennis London told Texas Scorecard. “They’ve essentially jeopardized our water security while leaving residents on the hook for potential litigation costs.”
The city council’s September 17 vote to cancel the RCH service agreement, which would have taken effect November 16, prompted RCH to sue the city.
RCH Board President David Naylor called the vote a “tactic to force concessions” and said the water company filed its lawsuit against the city on October 4 “to compel mediation and prevent the termination of service to Sonoma Verde residents.”
During a contentious November 12 council meeting, the mayor called for a vote to rescind the termination. That vote failed 4-1, with the same four council members sticking with their decision to cancel the RCH agreement.
The mayor said in a social media post that the council members’ votes had created an “unnecessary fight” between the city and RCH and caused disruption and unnecessary stress in the lives of McLendon-Chisholm citizens.
“Maybe that will change next meeting,” McNeal said Wednesday night.
Residents asked the mayor about the status of the RCH lawsuit and water service to Sonoma Verde.
Mayor McNeal explained that the city and RCH had reached a “Rule 11” agreement on November 14 to maintain the current service while the legal process continues.
McNeal noted that the case had been moved from Rockwall County to Dallas County due to local judges recusing themselves. He said the city has already spent more than $13,000 on legal fees related to the case.
“This lawsuit is still in play and costing us money,” a city resident told the mayor. “This is ridiculous.”
She requested an open forum with all parties to discuss the city’s future water plans.
A Sonoma Verde resident said he and other voters supported McNeal in the last mayoral election because they wanted his vision for solving the problem.
“We’ve got to get this done,” he said. “There’s a mandate.”
McNeal told residents he believes all parties are working for the same common goal: getting water to the people.
“My hope is to see what happens at the next council meeting,” he said. “I firmly believe we can sit down and talk.”
The mayor said he was going to reach out to each of the council members individually to discuss resolving the RCH Water issue for the benefit of the community.
“The people want us to talk,” said McNeal. “I believe the next council meeting is going to be different.”
McLendon-Chisolm’s next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10.
Residents can submit comments and questions to city council members.
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