Yuma, Arizona September 9, 2011 - On Thursday night, we brought you news about Olugbenga Oduyale, a trailer park property owner who owed the City of Yuma a $65,000 water bill.
"We're not in the business of shutting people off. We don't want to shut people's water off," says Martha Guzman, a spokesperson for the City of Yuma. "We really hope that the owner makes the payment and the tenants can just stay in their trailer parks because if the water is turned off, then these trailer homes become inhabitable."
Residents were in shock as they received their notices to disconnect water service around 8 a.m. Friday morning.
"Where are they going to live? Where are they going to go?" says Maria Lira, a neighbor who lives across the street from the Bann Mobile Home Park. "There's no way. That's not good that the owner is hiding something and he doesn't want to pay. He has to do what the City requires. It's difficult that those poor folks will be left without water. Where are by going to go and live?"
Around 11:15 a.m. Friday, the City of Yuma gets a cashier check for $65,000.
"All of these accounts are current. None of the water is going to be turned off," says Greg Hyland, Community Relations Director for the City of Yuma. "It was the power of the media, the power of the tenants got this man's attention. He paid his bill, he paid it in full. And I want to thank everyone who helped in this situation."
Property Manager and resident Karina Pino says Oduyale called her to tell her the debt had been paid. Now she has to tell her residents.
"Well, actually just two or three of them know, not everybody," says Pino. "I have to go around and tell them now. They left the dirty job to me to tell all the tenants that everything's taken care of."
KSWT News 13 put in a call to Mr. Oduyale but he was unavailable for comment. City officials say the full payment not only helps Oduyale's residents; it also helps Yuma water rate payers. Officials say the City wouldn't have to increase water cost to make up for unpaid debts.
