A week does not pass that a South Sheridan water customer does not post a picture of yellow, orange, brown or a colorful mixture of water from their taps.
The South Sheridan Water Association's board met Monday night to discuss ongoing water issues.
The nearly two-hour meeting zig zagged from one topic to another.
Some highlights:
- Applying for grants
- Conducting monthly meter readings
- Flushing water lines
- Building a proposed new water plant
- Passing health department tests
Foul language and billing dispute
One South Sheridan water customer – Jesse Downs – attended to question why long-time board president Rusty Hawkins used inappropriate language on the phone with Downs when he called to question his bill.
Downs detailed a billing dispute that began around February 23rd when he noticed an unusual spike in his water usage. He said reaching anyone at the office proved extremely difficult. He ultimately called Hawkins directly — four times over several weeks.
"Calling four times over the course of a few weeks to address a usage and billing concern, especially when it's difficult to reach anyone in the office, is not harassment," Downs told the board. "It's a resident trying to responsibly address an issue with a public utility."
During his fourth call, Downs alleged that Hawkins became verbally abusive, using profanity and accusing Downs of harassment. Hawkins acknowledged the exchange from his seat at the end of the table. He said his words were more along the lines of "What do you want from me?" — but admitted his language was wrong.
"You admitted it on Facebook, and you just admitted it again," Downs told Hawkins directly.
Downs also raised concerns that meter readers sometimes skip meters for several months before returning to read them. He said he previously had been told by a water department employee that if he didn't like the service, he could "go dig a well" himself.
He formally requested that the board open an investigation into both Hawkins' conduct and the meter reading procedures. Downs also asked that his comments be entered into the official meeting record. He also suggested that leadership within the association "be seriously reviewed" and that resignations be considered.
A new office manager acknowledged that meter reading inconsistencies are a real problem the association is actively working to correct.
Bright yellow water
Several customers in attendance described water ranging from faintly yellow to what one called "highlighter fluorescent."
One woman said she runs her bathtub every single day just to check whether it's clear enough to do laundry. Another resident said the situation was worse weeks ago but still described the water as looking like "a bunch of kids peed in it."
Hawkins and a worker explained that when the water plant lost pressure during the original incident — caused by a lightning strike that triggered an electrical fire — the system's water towers went completely empty. When pressure was restored, it dislodged years of sediment from pipes and towers throughout the looped system.
"It's just iron in the system floating around in circles," Hawkins said. "If we had a dead-end line system, we could have had that stuff flushed out in a couple of months. But in a looped system, it just keeps going around."
The Arkansas Department of Health has several posts in its database about recent water testing from South Sheridan Water Association for bacteria.
The health department visited and tested the finished water, which passed. Customers still say what comes out of their taps tells a different story.
A South Sheridan water employee and the board said they are working through a color-coded priority map — tackling areas with the darkest water first — but acknowledged that the looped nature of the system makes flushing an enormous challenge, particularly given that the plant is already running at 85 to 90 percent of its production capacity.
"We can't just go open hydrants all day," Hawkins said. "We're already at high capacity. We don't want to create a bigger problem."
A New Plant on the Horizon — But Years Away
Hawkins told the board he has already submitted the first stage of a USDA grant application for a new $13.6 million water treatment plant.
That plant would be built on five acres of land donated by local developers on the other side of the 167 bypass. Because the water board lacked a quorum the previous month, Hawkins moved ahead independently given grant application's deadline.
He cautioned the board that even in the best-case scenario — full approval and funding secured — engineering review, health department approval and construction would put the timeline at least two years out.
"We're at their mercy," Hawkins said. "They do it when they get good and ready."
The board also discussed a separate state grant application for a new filter at the existing plant to better trap iron and magnesium in raw water.
Those funds are uncertain because the water currently meets regulatory standards. The state money was primarily earmarked for systems affected by industrial chemical contamination.
Meter Readings: End of an Outside Contract
The board voted to bring meter reading in-house, ending the contract with the independent meter reader.
Multiple board members and the office manager described a pattern of skipped meters, estimated bills and re-read requests that had created billing headaches and customer frustration for months.
"I am so tired of getting work orders to go re-read a meter somebody else got paid to read," said one crew member.
Going forward, two South Sheridan employees will handle all meter reads each month. The board wants every meter — all roughly 1,700 of them — read every single month with no estimating, which has been occurring in the past.
Technology, Staffing and Communication Gaps
Several attendees and board members acknowledged that communication with customers is lacking especially since the office has been short-staffed.
A new part-time employee is being trained. The association recently launched a website although it is still being developed.
The board voted to seek at least two quotes for replacing the office's eight-year-old computer with one described as barely functional.
One quote already in hand by Hawkins prices a new Dell desktop and laptop at roughly $3,500 combined, including two years of on-site technical support.
One attendee urged the board to consider a better approach — including multi-channel customer communications, regular technology refreshes and a third-party operational readiness review.
Security Upgrade Approved
With a recent state advisory urging water systems to tighten security, the board approved moving forward with an electric gate and keypad system at the water plant.
Two estimates were received: one from Duncan Fence at $15,000 and one from Little Rock Fence at $20,000. The board indicated it would go with the lower bid once a written estimate is received.
Rate Increase on the Table
The board did not vote on a rate increase Monday night but discussed it at length.
The current base rate is $22.62 with several board members acknowledging is among the lowest in the state. The last increase came in 2023, when rates went from $23 to $25 per unit following a mandated rate study.
Several residents in attendance said they would support a modest increase if it meant real improvements to the system. The board indicated any rate decision may also be tied to requirements from the USDA grant process.
"Water is the best bargain out there," one board member said. "Really is."
