SALLISAW - A Sequoyah County District Court judge sided with the city of Vian Thursday and granted a temporary injunction against the Sequoyah County Water Association to keep the water turned on in the eastern Oklahoma community of 1400 residents.
The Association announced back in the Spring it was raising it’s wholesale water rates from $2.30 to $3.20 per 1,000 gallons to facilitate financing of the new project. The town of Vian has been unwilling to pay the increased rate and is currently nearly $20,000 in arrears to the SCWA.
Like anyone else that refuses to pay their bill , the town was out on notice and the SCWA responded with letters to residents threatening to turn off the tap.
Judge Matt Orendorff averted the drought by granting the injunction with the agreement that Vian would put up a $10,000 security bond until the matter was settled.
SCWA officials say rates are built into the contract for water to be provided to the town, and the new project on Lake Tenkiller will increase the available potable water by three million gallons a day. The project will include a new water treatment plant and storage tank.
Residents had taken to social media to express their concerns, touting the need for the town’s school and nursing facility to have water. Officials now say Vian residents do not have to fear cut offs while the two parties work out their differences.
