Tulsa And County To Enter Mediation Over Unpaid County Utility Bill Wednesday

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- The City of Tulsa and Tulsa County go into mediation Wednesday over a past due City of Tulsa utility bill.

6/13/2010 Related Story: City Of Tulsa, Tulsa County Will Go Into Mediation Over Unpaid Utility Bills

The County buys water from the City, but claims it doesn't owe related fees for storm water disposal and trash service. The unpaid bill is now more than $220,000.

"We're both very much looking forward to resolving this issue, and I certainly believe that just after a day of mediation we're going to be able to come to a resolution and put this issue behind us," John Smaligo, Tulsa County Commissioner, has said.

On Tuesday, Tulsa City Councilors reviewed tapes of their own meetings about the fairgrounds that didn't make any mention of waving fees paid by other utility customers.

The dispute started when the city annexed the fairgrounds in 2008 and signed an agreement to let the county do its own permitting and licensing at the fairgrounds.