Residents tell commissioners of alleged misconduct, smart‑meter loan at Windmill Water Supply Corp.
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Summary
Sandra "Santa" Perez, a member of Windmill Water Supply Corporation, told the Uvalde County Commissioners Court on Oct. 27 that attorney-led actions removed board members without following the utility’s bylaws and that the board is pursuing a large loan for smart meters that could raise member rates.
Sandra "Santa" Perez, who identified herself as a representative of Windmill Water Supply Corporation, told the Uvalde County Commissioners Court on Oct. 27 that attorney-led actions at a recent April 15 election resulted in the removal of board members without following the utility’s bylaws.
Perez cited Article 4, Section 2 of the Windmill Water Supply Corporation bylaws as the removal procedure she said was not followed and said local news outlets reported members expressed fear and frustration at the meeting. "Attorney Justin Wahlberg made a decision to tell the members that the board members were resigning at that present moment," Perez said.
Perez said the current board, led by President Jim Shoemaker, had pursued a loan to buy smart meters that would put the utility into significant debt and ultimately raise rates for members. She said the board had sought a "600,000" loan and that members were not being told about potential disadvantages of smart meters, only advantages. Perez also alleged that an elected secretary‑treasurer resigned after the attorney was performing treasurer duties and receiving $5,000 for that work; she said a newly appointed secretary‑treasurer resigned within two months for being uncomfortable signing checks.
Separately, speakers including Perez and others said they had been denied water service after requesting it. Perez said in one instance a meter was removed from her property and she was told she would not receive service. She also said the board purchased a Chevrolet pickup for $39,473 from utility bank reserves.
During public comment, community members raised concerns about law-enforcement responses to an alleged earlier trespass by Shoemaker at a senior resident’s home and said that police reports filed by the household had not been resolved. "When she attempted to call the police, they did take a 3 or 4 page report... that report has been sitting somewhere not being addressed by the county attorney," community advocate Diana Alvedo Carew said.
Court members did not take formal action on the Windmill Water Supply matter during the meeting; several speakers requested sheriff’s‑office follow-up and urged that the concerns be investigated.
