City officials to push back utility cutoff date for Jolie, Pines and Villa Norte Apartments

Ian Robinson, Shreveport Times

The City of Shreveport is pushing back the utility cutoff date for three Shreveport apartment complexes in an effort to help affected residents.

The Jolie of Shreveport apartments water has been turned off because of the “landlords’ lack of communication and willingness to meet their responsibilities,” read a letter sent out by Mayor Tom Arceneaux. The apartments, located at 1017 Quail Creek Rd., was in a state of despair on Thursday, ay 9, 2024.
The Jolie of Shreveport apartments water has been turned off because of the “landlords’ lack of communication and willingness to meet their responsibilities,” read a letter sent out by Mayor Tom Arceneaux. The apartments, located at 1017 Quail Creek Rd., was in a state of despair on Thursday, ay 9, 2024.

The city was set to disconnect water service May 14 at the Jolie Apartments, the Pines Apartments and Villa Norte Apartments due to landlords' nonpayment of utility invoices, Mayor Tom Arceneaux said in a news release.

However, due to concerns raised by affected residents, City Council members and community members, Arceneaux and utility companies have worked together to address the immediate needs of those impacted by utility disconnection, according to the release.

As a result, the cutoff date for water services at the Jolie Apartments and Villa Norte Apartments has been extended from May 14 to May 31. This extension provides additional time for residents to make necessary arrangements and explore available options for temporary housing and assistance.

Both CenterPoint and AEP/SWEPCO have advised city officials that they will move cutoff dates for those utilities at the Jolie Apartments and Villa Norte Apartments to May 31 as well. Arceneaux praised both companies for their compassion and cooperation.

The city believes it can assist the few residents of the Pines Apartments to find alternative housing before the original cutoff date, the release said.

Although the city is under no contractual obligation to the residents of the complexes, the release said, city officials, including Director of Community Development Bonnie Moore and Director of Property Standards Terrence Green, have been actively involved in the field, providing assistance and support to affect residents. Efforts are underway to explore alternative housing options and connect tenants with resources to address their immediate needs.

The City of Shreveport is reevaluating its credit and collection policies with respect to master water meter accounts and will be taking steps to review existing policies and explore potential modifications to stiffen regulationsand promote accountability for master water meter accounts. The City remains committed to implementing measures that protect the interest of both the residents of these apartment complexes and the municipality while upholding its responsibilities to the community.

The Pines Apartments residents have been given notice by the city that their water will be shut off at the end of May.
The Pines Apartments residents have been given notice by the city that their water will be shut off at the end of May.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport officials to push back utility cutoff for apartment complexes

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