Published: November 12, 2009 03:35 pm      

Annetta mayor keeps mum

Editor’s Note: This is the final story in series showing the various sides of the Deer Creek and Dyegard water system issues in East Parker County. This story only reflects the views of Annetta Mayor Phil Lumsden. Previous stories have included the views of mayors from Willow Park, Hudson Oaks and Aledo.



Crystal Brown

cbrown@weatherforddemocrat.com

Annetta Mayor Phil Lumsden has declined an interview prior to today’s mediation between the cities of Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Aledo and the Annettas.

Like Hudson Oaks Mayor Pat Deen and Aledo Mayor Kit Marshall, Lumsden said he did not want to mediate this issue in the press.

A court ordered mediation is scheduled for today for the cities to meet with their lawyers and Judge Don Chrestman to agree on the future of the Deer Creek water system.

Willow Park purchased the Deer Creek water system in 2005. The system is not in the city limits and portions of it are in the Hudson Oaks extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Since residents in this area do not live in an incorporated city, they have no elected officials representing them when it comes to water rates and who is controlling their water supply. Leaders in Hudson Oaks, Aledo and Annetta formed a coalition of cities to provide a voice for these residents.

The cities have tried to work out the sale of Deer Creek to the Parker County Utility District in the past, but has yet to come to an agreement.

“After our mediation tomorrow, everyone is going to know where everyone else stands and have a clear picture of what is going on and what is going to happen in the near future,” Lumsden said. “There is a lot of he-saids and she-saids and untruths and people who haven’t been on board since its conception. I’d rather wait until after the mediation and not try it in the paper and make anyone else mad going into this mediation.”