Public commenters ask Memphis City Council to investigate MLGW; residents also oppose sewer fee hikes and raise aquifer and policing concerns

A cross‑section of Memphians used the July 7 public‑comment period to press the City Council on several citizen concerns, including alleged mishandling by the municipal utility (MLGW), opposition to a proposed sewer fee increase, environmental concerns about the Memphis Sand Aquifer and data‑center activity, and an allegation of lethal force by National Guard personnel.

MLGW and utility complaints: Martina X told the council that on May 16, 2024 MLGW "allegedly allowed my estranged husband to establish utility service at my home using an out of state identification and a protection order," which she said led to her being locked out of her home, multiple arrests and eventual foreclosure. Martina X demanded a council investigation, asked who approved the reconnection, why the property owner was not notified, and called for accountability from the MLGW CEO. Ricky Lewis, speaking later, echoed calls for investigation into MLGW and asked that the council "have a heart for the customers" and look into leadership and employee practices.

Sewer fee opposition: Glenda Hicks spoke against item number 5 (the intent to increase sewer fees), saying she could not justify another increase amid recent property‑assessment driven tax increases and earlier solid‑waste rate jumps. Hicks alleged mismanagement of sewer funds and urged the council to avoid placing the burden on residents; she noted she did not know the exact proposed rate and framed her remarks as an appeal rather than a formal budget analysis.

Water supply and aquifer concerns: Multiple speakers — including Wanisha Hyman and civil rights attorney Claudia Hyman — raised alarm about threats to the Memphis Sand Aquifer. Wanisha Hyman cited the regional concentration of AI and data‑center facilities (naming XAI, Anthropic and Google) and raised concerns about coolant fluids containing antifreeze, potential groundwater impacts and the need for legal review of nondisclosure agreements when public interest is implicated. Claudia Hyman recounted her legal work in Jackson, Mississippi, where communities faced boil‑water notices, loss of pressure and school closures, and said the council should act preemptively to avoid similar community harms.

Policing and task force allegation: Public commenter Lucy Gucci Chiambliss said Tyron Johnson "was murdered Sunday by the National Guard" and urged the council to pressure MPD to disarm the soldiers or prevent them from performing law‑enforcement duties in the city; she said the council has been quiet on the issue and urged it to apply pressure on police leadership.

What council can and cannot do: Several commenters acknowledged limits to the council’s authority over state or federal actors and over certain law‑enforcement task forces, but asked the council to use its platform to seek accountability from city agencies (including MLGW and MPD) and to request investigations or reports. Martina X explicitly demanded a council investigation into MLGW procedures and accountability for the CEO.

Next steps and context: The council did not record any formal staff reports or immediate directives in the public transcript to open a formal investigation of MLGW or to halt the sewer item; commenters requested follow‑up. The transcript records strong sentiment from multiple residents and offers of legal materials from at least one speaker (Claudia Hyman) willing to share case documents.

Representative quotes: "I am demanding this council to investigate MLGW's actions, demand accountability from its CEO, and ensure no other Memphian resident loses their home and constitutional rights because a city agency... failed to do its job." — Martina X "It is not justified" to raise sewer fees, and "you all need to deal with that without putting that responsibility on the backs of hardworking citizens." — Glenda Hicks "Tyron Johnson was murdered Sunday by the National Guard." — Lucy Gucci Chiambliss (public comment allegation)

The council did not make public motions tied directly to these comments during the session; several items on the council agenda (including the sewer matter referenced by a commenter) were in various stages of second reading or committee action and may be subject to formal follow‑up in subsequent meetings.