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Hebron in water dispute with Carrollton
By Senitra Horbrook, shorbrook@acnpapers.com
The property owner of a Hebron shopping center is in dispute with the city of Carrollton over the water supply and plans to take the case to the Texas Supreme Court.
The property in question is Hebron Plaza, a year-old shopping center on Parker Road, near Dozier. Ron Mabra, who serves on the Hebron town council, said the city is threatening to turn off the water supply to Hebron Plaza on Friday.
“(The city) told the property owner they couldn’t supply water with one meter on the property,” Mabra said. “Carrollton decided to inspect the property even though it’s in Hebron.”
“I asked for a commercial meter. (The inspector) laughed and said we’re not going to give you that,” Harrison said. “He said our options were to drill a well or annex into Carrollton.”
Carrollton is not commenting on the situation.
“We can’t comment once there’s been threat of legal action,” said Sheri Chadwick, Carrollton spokeswoman.
Harrison said after the inspection he received a letter, saying the water would be shut off in 30 days. The shut-off date is Friday.
“By state law, I’m required to have a water fountain in each tenant space,” Harrison said. “By them turning the water off, I won’t have water fountains for the customers.”
Mabra claims Carrollton’s motives are not safety driven.
“It’s driven to get property annexed from Hebron into Carrollton,” he said.
About 25 residents of the small community gathered for a meeting of the town council Monday evening to discuss the issue. Water issues between Hebron and Carrollton date back to about 10 years when Hebron agreed to let Carrollton take over the water supply.
“The reason Carrollton wanted to take over was to use it as a lever to get Hebron property annexed into Carrollton,” Mabra said. “Now, nobody can get any additional water lines unless they annex into Carrollton.”
Mabra said Hebron and Carrollton faced a similar dispute a few years ago, when Carrollton turned down another businessman who wanted a water meter.
“He went to the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) with a lawyer. They said you (Carrollton) are required to supply water and sewer to anybody in Hebron,” Mabra said. “Carrollton refused the order. The TCEQ, along with the businessman, won in the court.”
Mabra said eventually the businessman got tired of fighting and moved his business elsewhere.
Hebron Plaza is pursuing litigation and plans to take the case to the Texas Supreme Court.
“Last time this happened Carrollton taxpayers spent a half-million fighting this. Hebron won in three different courts,” Harrison said. “We’re going back to court and the taxpayers are going to spend another half-million.”
Mabra said he is afraid this issue will trickle down to the residents of Hebron if they decide to expand their property.
“Most people out here have small tracts. If you wanted to build a house for your mother on the property, you couldn’t get water on it. They would stop supplying water to the structure,” he said. “Somebody needs to spend money on legal fees to force compliance.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
southernbelle wrote on Nov 3, 2009 2:43 PM:
" I live in Carrollton just on the border of Hebron. This isn't the first time that the bullies of Carrollton have done this sort of stuff concerning Hebron. There are very few nice areas in Carrollton. Carrollton should focus less on this kind of activity and concentrate on cleaning up the dumpy looking city. I've lived in Carrollton for 20 years and quite frankly I'm about ready to bale out of here. "
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