Strong opposition from residents of Lauderdale County who are rural water association customers marked a public hearing Tuesday evening on Meridian’s plans to form a water and wastewater district.

    The message repeated several times: Our water and sewer is fine and we don’t want to be a part of the city’s plans.

    City officials also learned that they can’t exactly “go it alone” in forming the water and wastewater district. It takes two or more entities to establish such a district and the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors would have to approve it.

    “The statute is very clear. It says two or more governmental entities consisting of a county and a municipality. It cannot be a municipality on its own,” said James Welch, the attorney for the town of Marion.

    Welch spoke at the hearing to ask questions regarding Marion’s role in the proposed district and to point out that the law requires two entities. Meridian officials have said that they would like for Marion and Lauderdale County to join the district, but it wasn’t necessary for their participation in order to move forward.

     Meridian officials were under the impression that if they formed a district limited to the confines of the city limits, they could form the district without Marion or Lauderdale County.

    Michael Caples, the attorney hired by the city of Meridian to work on a plan to get the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure in compliance with state and federal environmental standards, confirmed after the hearing Tuesday that the city will have to get the cooperation from the county.

    “There has to be two entities, yes,” Caples said. “They can create one just for the city as long as the county agrees. The county still has to approve it.”

    Jim Herring, an attorney who represents several rural water associations from Lauderdale County, also addressed the city council during the public hearing.

    “I have represented many water associations across the state,” Herring said. “I’m familiar with this process that’s being offered to you today. It’s part of a trend that’s being offered in several counties across the state with not good results, in my opinion. Basically, it’s designed, ultimately, to run water associations out of business. You can say otherwise, but the fact is, if you allow this county-wide district to be created, the pressure will be so great that ultimately rural water associations will be very heavily tempted to give in to the district.”

    Herring and Welch both asked about a Meridian City Council resolution that named both the town of Marion and the Lauderdale Board of Supervisors as part of the district, even though Marion officials and county supervisors haven’t been asked to act on the matter.

    “No action has been taken on this,” Councilman George Thomas told Welch when asked about the resolution.

    “Thank you,” Welch said. “So there is no agreement between Marion, the county and the city to create this district notwithstanding what the resolution said.”

    As Welch continued asking questions of the council, Mary Perry, Councilwoman, Ward Two, responded to questions about the city’s failing water and wastewater infrastructure.

    “This is a hearing, but I think it’s only fair that we not be asked questions but I will say this,” Perry said. “We have been repairing and we have repaired. We have spent millions…as of now, we’re not under any faults with DEQ.”

    Harold Whitlaw said the city’s plan was “a back door to annexation.”

    “There’s nothing wrong in my part of the county and I don’t want any part of the city,” Otis Barrett said.

    Raymond Huffmaster said he was in complete opposition to the county getting involved in creation of a water district.

    “I don’t think anybody in the county wants in this. I know I don’t,” Huffmaster said.

    Billy Harris said, “For years this problem has been going on. Money’s been diverted from Public Works. Five to 10 years from now, when one of us needs to drill a new well, once we come under your authority, this is going to be a problem.”

    Michael Boyette, manager of the Southwest Lauderdale Water Association, said he was never formally asked to meet with the city.

    “It makes me think that you’re going right behind our backs to do something wrong,” Boyette said.

The council took no action on the matter Tuesday.