The water services have been restored at Tara Woods Apartments tonight. The property owners, Red Apple Investments, paid 75% of the $98,000 water bill, according to Michelle Matich, assistant to the property’s owner.
“We paid the bill this morning,” said Matich, who was dressed in a black cap and workout gear as she had to come from her home to the apartments to take care of the matter. “This was very embarrassing. We care very much about our tenants and I am so thankful we have gotten this taken care of.”
Matich said there is still over $200,000 in delinquent rent that is owed, but the most important thing was to get the water back on.
What a start to a Monday morning
With residents looking on from second floor balconies and from their ground floor apartment doorways, the water services at the Tara Woods Apartments were cut off Monday morning.
Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) staffers were escorted to the Jonesboro-based apartments by Clayton County Police, Clayton County Code Enforcement officers and Clayton County Fire Scene Investigations officials. Hundreds of residents will be immediately effected by the disruption of service.
With less than a month before the school year begins at dozens of nearby Clayton County Schools, the apartment complex owners, Red Apple Investments, have reported $225,000 in delinquent rent and a $98,000 account balance with CCWA. Signage informing residents about the stoppage in water service was posted outside the entrance to Tara Woods Apartments Friday, July 7. Less than an hour after the water service was stopped, Clayton County Code Enforcement began going door-to-door informing residents that they would have to evacuate the premises by 5 p.m.
A number of residents were crying as they learned about the evacuation, others were packing their children and personal items into cars and leaving the apartments.
Red Apple Investments, LLC, has been contacted for comment but has not returned our calls and emails. Tara Woods Apartments is located at 661 Sherwood Drive.
The Atlanta Voice will continue to update this story.