Resident tells Adams County supervisors she’s gone years without water, urges intervention

Joanne Stafford told the Adams County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 23 that she has been without reliable water service for roughly five years and urged the board to help restore her supply. "I have been deprived of water," Stafford said, describing repeated billing problems, a lock placed on her meter and what she called retaliatory actions after she reported a utility employee.

Stafford said she first paid a deposit when she moved back into her mother’s house in 2019 and later reported recurring improper billing and service interruptions to local utility staff and an attorney. She told the board she attended utility meetings, asked why a lock had been placed on her meter and was told the shutoff was for low pressure and a moratorium; she disputes that explanation and said the lock was placed after she reported staff behavior. "They put a lock on my water box," Stafford said. "I'm locked out because I reported Amanda Lewis."

The comment included allegations involving named individuals and entities: Stafford said she had contacted the state Public Service Commission and the Mississippi Department of Health, and she claimed an attorney forwarded incorrect information to regulators. Board members said the utility is a private association and explained that water utilities are regulated by the Public Service Commission, not the board of supervisors, but several supervisors said they would try to help by contacting local utility leadership and flagging Stafford’s complaint for public attention.

Supervisor [unnamed] advised Stafford to leave contact information with staff so officials could follow up, and a board member said he would reach out to the utility's president to get the other side of the story. The board did not take formal action beyond directing staff to collect Stafford’s contact details and to request further information from utility representatives.

Next steps: staff and at least one supervisor said they would try to reach Broadwood/Broadmoor Utility leadership and the Public Service Commission office to clarify the complaint and explore options for restoring service or escalating enforcement if regulators find violations.