ABBEVILLE, S.C. —
For more than a year, WYFF 4 has investigated water problems, mounting debt, a state-ordered audit, and unanswered questions in Calhoun Falls. Now, the city of Abbeville, the town's water supplier, wants to take ownership of Calhoun Falls' water and sewer system.
The city is already suing Calhoun Falls for more than $400,000 in unpaid water costs. For over a year, WYFF 4 has taken you inside homes to show the many people dealing with brown water and low water pressure.
For the first time, Abbeville leaders are explaining to WYFF 4 why they are considering a new route.
The city of Abbeville said while Calhoun Falls has made some payments on its water debt since the lawsuit, the debt has increased to more than $500,000. Abbeville leaders say they are prepared to forgive it all if Calhoun Falls enters a partnership.
Calhoun Falls is also dealing with a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation and a $1.7 million debt that includes the $400,000 owed to Abbeville.
Recently Abbeville passed this joint resolution. City Deputy Administrative Officer Michael Clary said the city would own and operate the Calhoun Falls water and sewer system.
"The city would read meters, we would bill, we would collect all payments," Clary said.
However, Calhoun Falls has many issues with its water infrastructure, and many water meters need replacing. According to Clary, Abbeville would work to develop a comprehensive capital improvement fund. He also addressed what would happen with the $400,000 debt.
"In the current framework, the city would forgive the town of Calhoun Falls as an organization," Clary said. "That debt now would be billed to Calhoun Falls customers over a period of years."
WYFF 4 asked why the city did not offer the partnership before filing a lawsuit.
"Before things got to the lawsuit level, there were numerous meetings to try and resolve this," Clary said.
"This will be the death of Calhoun Falls," Calhoun Falls Mayor Viggo Lassen said.
Lassen is not on board and doesn't believe it is in the town's best interest.
"If the council decides to do this, then they're selling out the town," Viggo said. "And Calhoun Falls will never have anything."
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Clary disagrees; he referred to the state-ordered audit. It's an audit that found Calhoun Falls as a high risk for fraud.
"The audit that was done by the state, it would appear to me that general fund dollars are going into the utility revenue system or into the utility system," Clary said.
He says Calhoun Falls could stand to gain through a franchise fee that could go up to 10% if they accept the resolution.
While Lassen is not on board, he says other councilmembers have expressed interest.
Clary says there is no rush on a decision, but if Calhoun Falls says no, then they will continue to follow the lawsuit path.