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PEARSON, Ga. (WALB) - Multiple facilities operated by the Atkinson County Board of Education have had their water service cut off by the city of Pearson, the mayor’s office announced. The office said the BOE has failed to pay their utility bills in full for several months and owes over $9,000.

According to the mayor, they have tried to work with the BOE to allow discounts on their utility bill, but the BOE has never paid the full agreed-upon amount.

The city said they made the decision to discontinue water service only after school was out of session, “out of respect for the students and to avoid disruption to their education.”

The mayor’s office also said that the Atkinson County Superintendent Dr. Melissa Wilbanks refused to meet with city officials until a “formal” mayor was established. Mayor Robert Johnson is currently being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on several charges, but he is still the chief executive of the city.

The city posted a full release about the situation on their Facebook page. Read it in full here:

The Office of the Mayor of the City of Pearson is issuing this statement to clarify recent actions taken regarding the Atkinson County Board of Education’s water service.

Despite numerous attempts over several months to reach a resolution, the Atkinson County School System has failed to pay its water utility bills in full and is currently over $9,000 delinquent. In response, the City has made the difficult decision to discontinue water service at select locations operated by the Board of Education.

In an effort to avoid this outcome, the City Council met with Superintendent Dr. Wilbanks at City Hall several months ago and agreed to allow the school system to make monthly payments of $4,500 until the start of the new fiscal year, thereby giving the school board time to adjust its budget accordingly. Dr. Wilbanks, however, unilaterally determined that the school system would only remit $3,200 monthly and has claimed that the City Council approved this amount during a meeting on February 27. This claim is inaccurate, as no official meeting regular, special, or called was held on that date, nor was any formal action taken by the council to approve such a figure.

Out of respect for the students and to avoid disruption to their education, the City refrained from turning off water service while school was in session. Numerous notices were sent to the Board of Education, but these were disregarded. Additionally, Dr. Wilbanks declined to meet with city leadership, stating she would not do so until a formal mayor was established, despite Mayor Robert Johnson having been duly appointed.

After reviewing the school system’s usage and billing history, the City Council voted during its regular May session to establish a flat monthly rate of $6,200, still providing the school system with a discount of over $3,000 compared to actual usage. Despite being notified of this adjustment, the Board of Education continued to remit only $3,200, prompting the current enforcement action.

The City of Pearson values its partnership with local institutions, particularly those that serve our children. However, the superintendent’s continued refusal to collaborate in good faith and acknowledge the authority and good will of the City Council and Mayor’s Office leaves us with no alternative. This action is a necessary step prior to pursuing formal legal remedies.

We remain open to constructive dialogue and resolution but expect the same level of responsibility and mutual respect from our public partners that our citizens uphold daily.

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