Judge approves petition to remove Porterville Water board members in Kemper County
A Kemper County chancery judge has allowed a petition to remove three members of the Porterville Water Association to proceed, following a request supported by nearly 100 customers, according to court records.
The rural water provider has faced criticism from residents and officials over repeated service problems, including outages, low water pressure, and poor water quality. Many members blame the association’s leadership for these issues, which have worsened over the past year, said Paul Howard, a resident near Scooba and association member.
Howard cited concerns about dark-colored water, poor taste, and a lack of notices about low pressure or outages. David Bryan, another member, said the community needs federal assistance to address the ongoing problems. Some residents, including an elderly couple, Willie and Pauline Thompson, reported nearly a year without running water.
Former board member Mose Fleming, who served until October 2022, said the association’s infrastructure is aging and that system operators lack proper training. He and Howard also raised concerns about the large geographic area covered by the system, which serves about 950 members in good standing, according to attorneys in court.
State law allows members of rural water associations to petition for the removal of board members if enough signatures are collected. The petition in this case required 95 signatures, or 10% of the membership. After some legal debate, the court ordered the signatures to be presented at the association’s next meeting, scheduled for Monday, and a special meeting within 21 days to address replacing the targeted members, including Board President Cervera Davis.
The association’s attorney, Dustin Markham, told Mississippi Today the utility is attempting to protect its integrity. Markham acknowledged the challenges faced by rural water systems but emphasized efforts to secure funding, including two unsuccessful applications for American Rescue Plan Act funds. He noted that fixing the system’s issues, which have developed over decades, would cost around $25 million and likely require both state and federal support.
Markham also addressed complaints from the Thompsons, who have been without running water for months but still receive bills. He stated the association has worked with the Mississippi State Department of Health to resolve the problems. The couple disputes the association’s account, saying they signed an agreement accepting lower pressure but have faced extended outages only in recent years.
MSDH spokesperson Andrea Dilworth said the agency will pursue appropriate actions to address deficiencies identified in the water supply. She declined to provide specifics about the issues or the agreement with the Thompsons, stating that further hearings may be necessary if the utility fails to supply sufficient details.
The court’s decision allows the petition to proceed, potentially leading to the replacement of the current board members to address ongoing service concerns, according to court records and legal representatives.
Source: Original Article
