Video: Water Merger Fails in Rural Monroe County

[syndicaster id=’5563313′]

WREN, Miss. (WCBI)-The Wren community is facing possible changes with the merger of two water associations. Monday, customers had the chance to vote on the issue and not all were supporting the idea.

“I am not for it. We have an excellent water system,” says Hal Rieves.

Hal Rieves has spent 59 years in the Wren community with Coontail Water as his main provider.

Monday, Rieves and other Wren poured into precincts to vote on whether the Wren and Coontail Water Districts should merge.

Rieves says he and others oppose the merger because they know little about the possible change.

“I think a lot of the people really don’t understand what this was coming up to until it was there it is in your face you know so I think it will be a no vote now I may be wrong,” says Rieves.

Not all think merging the two districts is a bad idea. Coontail Water Board President, Todd Wilemon, says a combined district could improve service for all customers.

“It’s a vote again to help strength Coontail Water which is right now a super system. It has been for oh goodness last 30 plus years so this is an opportunity to merge with Wren and make it an overall stronger system,” says Todd Wilemon.

However, Wilemon says he understands why some may disagree.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the past I think Wren has had some personality issues their organization they’ve always had good water. Finances have always been good so I think some of that has come into it,” says Wilemon.

Coontail Water has about 460 customers, while there are 1,100 in the Wren system.

Both Board Presidents say the merger did not pass.

Coontail Water customers had 116 against with 16 in favor.

Wren Water customers voted 82 against with 55 in favor.

 

 

Categories: Local News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *