Over the past three years, West Warren-Viola Utility District has been embroiled in a bitter land dispute with the Jarrell family of Coffee County, leaving West Warren-Viola footing a bill of $108,000 for the family’s legal fees. This does not include the legal fees incurred by the utility district itself.The source of contention began in November, 2011 when West-Warren Viola received a $500,000 Community Block Development Grant to put toward a $3.7 million project that included a 1-million-gallon holding tank. The project was touted as a way to improve the water supply to Morrison School and to encourage future expansion at Mountain View Industrial Park.The site chosen for the water tank was a 5.75-acre portion of the Jarrell family property, a six-generation family farm located near Manchester atop Flat Mountain.
Utility losing battle to take family farm
West Warren District told to be pay $108K