Video: Last Hurdle Cleared In Getting Tupelo Water To Newly Annexed Areas Of City

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The path is now clear for Tupelo to take over water service in newly annexed areas of that city.

Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley approved a proposal by Tupelo Water and Light to add 560 customers living in the newly annexed areas served by the North Lee Water Association.

The areas were annexed in 2012 after a lengthy legal battle. In the last year, infrastructure, such as water mains and other needed equipment has been installed in northern areas annexed by the city.

This past summer, the city of Tupelo agreed to pay the North Lee Water Association three million dollars to put 563 customers into municipal water service.

“Hopefully it is something that will work well for all the parties involved and people in the city will get enhanced service and money they’re paying to North Lee will help the rest of North Lee County Water Association keep their rates low and provide capital cushion for them,” said Bill Beasley, attorney for the North Lee Co. Water Association.

The agreement means a 49 percent reduction in water bills for customers switching to Tupelo Water and Light.

Tupelo City Attorney Ben Logan says taxpayers will also save because under the old agreement, North Lee provided their customers drinking water, while Tupelo provided fire protection.

“Which was a terrible waste of taxpayers money because you had one line going the street carrying fire protection and one line carrying drinking water,” Logan said.

The agreement will become official in about two weeks.

The city of Tupelo has spent about $21,000,000 getting the annexed areas ready for municipal services.