won't let Adairville out of contract

In a letter to the City of Adairville, the Logan/Todd Regional Water Commission (LTRWC) has said the entity will not let Adairville "withdraw from their contractual obligations."

The letter, written by LTRWC attorney Fred Greene and mailed Wednesday, stated that the "Executive Committee voted unanimously not to permit the City of Adairville to withdraw from their contractual obligations."

Wilford Arnold, who is the Adairville representative on LTRWC, voted in favor of keeping Adairville to its contract.

The Adairville City Council voted last week in what was supposed to be a special called meeting to discuss water rates to send a letter to the LTRWC and the South Logan Water Association advising that the council wants to pull out of its contract with Logan/Todd and would hold South Logan to a previous water purchase contract.

Not only did LTRWC's water board decided to not allow Adairville out of their contract, but to push the issue when it comes to Adairville staying in the Commission.

"The executive Committee is of the opinion that the Commission has a binding contract with the City of Adairville and is willing to take whatever steps necessary to enforce that contract," the letter stated.

"As far as we are concerned, there is no need for Adairville to respond," Greene said Thursday.

Adairville Mayor Bill Steen did not have an immediate response to the letter.

Also in the letter, LTRWC Systems Manager Brent Traughber gave the city its 30-day notice and said that water will be furnished by the Commission beginning April 21, 2003.

"(Adairville) will be receiving a second notification within a number of hours prior to the actual supplying of water," the letter stated. "We expect Adairville to have completed all of its preparatory obligations."

Since the public outcry over the possibility of water rates climbing as high as 200 percent or more for some Adairville water customers, the city council has yet to set any water rates.

Since the council has only one scheduled meeting on April 14 before the water is set to come online -- and if the city decides not to fight its contract with LTRWC -- the council will have to have series of special called meetings just to get the rates set and have two public readings on the rates.

South Logan will have a response concerning the entities contracts with Adairville early next week, Greene said.