Wells Island Road residents told to evacuate if water turned off

The City of Shreveport has delayed cutting the water off since Nov. 15 and told Analytical Logging they have until Dec. 7 to pay the bill. As of afternoon Dec. 7, they have not paid the bill and the water is still on.

Chief Administrative Officer Dale Sibley said this is not a city issue because the residents being affected live in Caddo Parish. He said the bigger issue is that Analytical Logging was never authorized to resell its water to residents living nearby. So, even if the company pays its bill, it must stop reselling the water to residents until it works out an agreement with the city. Sibley said the other option is for residents to petition to the city to be added to its water and sewer lines, which he said could cost thousands of dollars.

Donna Dupont is one of the residents who has been paying Analytical Logging for her water bills for the past 15 years.  She said she doesn't understand why the city let the situation get this far out of control.

"We suffer because the city failed to stop it before it got out of hand and also whatever the problem was with Analytical and the payment. I'm very frustrated," said Dupont.

Caddo Parish Commissioner Michael Williams came out to the neighborhood, which is in his district, on Friday. He spoke to Dupont's tenant, Tom Oakes, and told him that he is working with the Parish to get the issue resolved.

"Don't penalize them for something someone took advantage of them. It's not their fault," said Commissioner Williams. "You take your business up with the business that was taking from the people. You sue them, get your money back from them. But don't penalize the people for that. That's wrong."

Cindy Chadwick, Public Information Officer with the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, said a report has been filed in regards to Analytical Logging supplying water to residents. Chadwick said detectives looked over the report and could not locate any criminal charges. She said at this point, detectives believe this is a civil matter between Analytical Logging and the City of Shreveport.

Officials with the Department of Health and Hospitals informed residents living on Wells Island Road Friday that if their water is turned off, they must voluntarily vacate the property or face eviction.