Forsyth holds off on Liberty Utilities easement agreement

During the Monday, Aug. 17, City of Forsyth Aldermen meeting, the board decided to hold off another month to decide on the easement offer from Liberty Utilities.

This has been an issue up for debate for many months within the city. In April the city hosted a Town Hall meeting to discuss the easement expansion requested by Liberty Utilities. The residents of Forsyth raised concerns about the expanded easements. At the meeting the city informed residents of their rights and the process Liberty Utilities has to follow in expanding the easement through Forsyth.

Since the easement expansion was requested, many residents have raised concerns.           

“We have had some comments from the public that they would like us to hold off on this,” Ward II Aldermen and President of the Board Dennis Winzenried said.

“There was a statement made that we'd be the last man standing. I can't say that we'll be the last man standing, but I think there's enough concern about the easement issues that we want to postpone our vote, table it, and hold off.”

According to Winzenried, individual landowners will need to discuss easement with Liberty Utilities.

“We want to remind the public, each individual homeowner is responsible to negotiate with Liberty on these agreements,” Winzenried said. “There is a group that's working on a sort of class action suit with them, saying what they’re doing isn't right, as far as how they're going about it. I don't know enough to comment on that. I think they're moving forward with the suit, so that's one reason we want to wait at least a month to look at it again and see what we should do.”

All aldermen were in agreement to table the vote until next month’s meeting.