Charlie Drape, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·4 min read
Pulling into the Gardenside Apartments Wednesday at noon, you would've been met by an angry security guard hurrying reporters away and screaming "this is private property" for all to hear.
The chaotic scene was due to headlines that Gardenside's tenants had their water turned off for part of Tuesday, which saw temperatures as high as 97 degrees.
The complex's management company has a "delinquent" account, according to JXN Water Spokesperson Aisha Carson. She confirmed the tenants' "service was interrupted," but wouldn't say for how long.
Carson also confirmed Gardenside's management has an account balance over $100,000 and they haven't paid a bill since 2017. She did not confirm if every tenant's water had been turned back on.
The two-story apartment complex, located on West Northside Drive in Ward 3, looks like its seen better days. Some of the rails on the black staircases are falling off. The parking lot had litter strewn about from the various neighboring fast-food restaurants. A group of about five or six unhoused people were sitting in the shade next to the complex's broken fence — the security guard also yelling at them.
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One tenant, Lontrean Matthews, was leaving the complex Wednesday, but rolled his window down to tell the Clarion Ledger that his water was turned back on Tuesday night.
Hinds County District 2 Supervisor Anthony Smith said he went to the complex Tuesday afternoon after he heard about the shut-offs. The Gardenside Apartments are located in Smith's district.
"Apparently they had a water bill for $150,000 they didn't pay, but later on that day they came and turned the water back on … You had senior citizens and you had veterans there without water," Smith said. "The place is in disrepair. The balconies are about to fall down, you got rats out there, they said there is black mold in the building. It's in pretty bad shape."
Calls to the complex's management company went unanswered. The Clarion Ledger knocked on the leasing office at the complex, but no one came to the door.
Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who represents Ward 3 where the apartment complex is located, was not available for a comment.
In April, JXN Water announced five different apartment complexes in Jackson have past-due water balances of more than $267,000. Collectively, they owe $1,801,000. Gardenside was not one of the apartments on the list.
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JXN Water releases statement on future shut-offs
A little after 3 p.m. on Wednesday and a day after the Gardenside Apartments had water service interrupted, JXN Water issued a press release stating shut-offs have begun for multi-family apartment complexes.
"JXN Water has made major strides in improving the consistency and reliability of water throughout the Jackson community. To maintain our progress in improving the system, everyone must pay their fair share. We are thankful to the residents and businesses who have consistently paid their water bills. To protect our paying customers' contribution to the system, we must hold people accountable who have outstanding balances with JXN Water," the press release states.
The water utility company also provided further clarity regarding "recent and future shut-offs."
Property management companies are contacted multiple times by JXN Water, and a notice of water disconnection is issued in advanced, which JXN Water says is "in line with our policy."
If no action is taken to resolve an outstanding balance, the property enters a severance process. JXN Water said this is necessary "to maintain fairness and accountability across our customer base."
Residents are encouraged to engage with their property management company to understand the steps that need to be taken to restore services.
Residents are also encouraged to confirm with their property management company that their water account is current.
"We urge property owners and management companies to fulfill their obligations to their residents by paying their water bills promptly to prevent future disruptions. Property managers or owners can call 601-500-5200 for inquiries regarding outstanding balances or ways to pay," the press release finishes.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS apartment complex water shut-off due to nonpayment
