Residents find vacate signs after they say apartment complex didn't pay water bill

EAST POINT, Ga. — A bright orange notice to vacate is posted at the entrance of the Hidden Cove apartments in East Point. Residents say it is an alarming sight.%

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"I really don't have peace of mind when I see that," said resident Brea Ditzel.

Ditzel says apartment management offered her no explanation, so she reached out to Channel 2 Action News concerned that she might get put out of her apartment.

The notices were posted due to an unpaid balance with the East Point Water & Sewer department, and the city's threat to disconnect service.

"If they depend on us to pay our rent, we depend on them to pay our water bill that's included in our rent," said Ditzel.

Channel 2 Action News went to get the explanation that residents say has been so elusive.

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A staff member insisted that residents will not have to vacate.

A regional manager revealed that previous management left a balance of $70,000, and said that balance is currently in dispute.

"It's a balance that is not owed by us, said Regional Manager Rey Figueroa. We're taking all the necessary measures for us to resolve it, but it's been very difficult to do so."%

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One resident objected. "All the problems that were there are yours," she said. "It should have been handled prior."

An official at East Point Water & Sewer says that residents are hardly ever kicked out due to unpaid bills. They say balances are typically worked out within the 48-hour deadline.

Still, residents say there's an uneasy feeling as they wait.

"There's no need to panic," said Figueroa. "We're actually in the process of getting it resolved. It's a misunderstanding between the city and the collections department."

Figueroa said in the worst case scenario, the apartment would pay the balance and then work to get reimbursed. He said he would not let the water get disconnected.

"Somebody has to do something about it," said Ditzel.

Cox Media Group