JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After weeks of attempting to reach City Councilwoman Tyrona Clark-Murray regarding water service issues at a Westside apartment complex, News4JAX finally talked with her Tuesday ahead of a crucial council meeting.
Clark-Murray acknowledged the ongoing problems at Arbor Oaks apartments, where residents faced a water outage earlier in the month due to unpaid bills.
“We’re aware of the problem, and we are working on solutions,” Clark-Murray said. “My heart always goes out to the people, but I also wonder, what is management doing with the money that they should have paid to keep up the service?”
The issues at Arbor Oaks first came to light on Sept. 2, when residents said they had been without water for several days. Water service was restored later that same day, but residents continued to report difficulties reaching property management or the owner, Jacksonville Rental Properties, LLC.
When asked about similar situations across Jacksonville, Clark-Murray noted this wasn’t an isolated incident.
“This is not the first case, obviously, in Jacksonville, and there have been some cases that have been much, much worse,” she said. “But for the people who are going through it, it doesn’t matter how many cases, it’s the first case or the last case, they’re going through that, and they want their services restored.”
Looking ahead, the councilwoman indicated there are potential solutions within legal boundaries.
“There are other solutions that we can look at, some ways like code enforcement make sure that the management company is doing what it’s supposed to do,” she said.
News4JAX will continue to monitor developments at Arbor Oaks and the City Council’s response to these ongoing issues.