from staff reports
The City of Meridian and the Town of Marion moved a step closer to a resolution of their conflict over sewage charges at a city council meeting Tuesday.
The council approved an order allowing Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry to sign papers closing the long-argued case in which the Town of Marion was ordered to pay the City of Meridian more than $400,000 in back sewage and water treatment fees.
City Attorney Bill Ready said Wednesday that both parties agreed to dismiss the case — but only after Marion pays its debt.
"All the papers will be signed when a check slides across the desk from one lawyer to the other," Ready said. "Upon Marion delivering (Barry) a valid check, she can sign those papers."
After years of battling over the sewage charges, the Chancery Court of Lauderdale County ruled in 2007 that Marion must pay a total of $430,000 in fees to Meridian. Since then, the two entities have continued to disagree over the charges.
The city council's action Tuesday authorized Barry to release the lien and dismiss civil action against the Town of Marion, but Ready said Barry cannot do so until Marion's debt has been settled.
Marion Mayor Elvis Hudson could not be reached for comment.
Watch for continuing coverage of this case in The Meridian Star.
