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By BILL VARIAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 5, 2001
WIMAUMA -- The tap might run dry for about 250 farmworkers because the landlord of their low-income housing complex is more than $100,000 behind on paying its county water bill.
County water officials say they are hoping to work out something with the California-based owner of La Estancia Apartments at 5292 Guadalupe Blvd. But they say the company, Wimauma Community Ltd., has been slow to agree to terms.
"We're trying to work out a payment plan where they can catch up," said Mike Foerster, director of communications for Hillsborough County. "The last thing we want to do is shut off the water because that affects people who have no fault in this."
The shortfall dates to August 1999, according to county records, when Wimauma Community Ltd. agreed to connect the 84-unit La Estancia Apartments to Hillsborough water lines. Previously the complex used well water.
But something was missed in the switch, county officials say. For the first nine months, the county only billed La Estancia for sewer, but not water, and the company never submitted a standard $15,000 deposit. Roger Castro, general manager for the water department, said the problem stemmed from a computer coding error on the county's part.
An audit by Castro revealed the error in April 2000. But the company did not pay the balance and fell further behind with subsequent bills, as it made partial payments of about $3,000 on typical monthly charges topping $7,000. Wimauma Community Ltd. had paid the full bill during the previous three months, Castro said.
The county claims the company owes $128,532, a figure that includes a $45,000 bond the water department is seeking in place of the deposit until the bill is satisfied.
A representative of WNC & Associates, the general partner for Wimauma Community Ltd. based in Costa Mesa, Calif., did not return a message left at his office seeking comment. Records show the apartment complex was built in 1997 with the aid of county, state and federal low-income housing money.
Estimates for water and sewer costs are factored into the rent charged to La Estancia residents. A county release Monday indicated that the company claims it underestimated the cost for water and sewer in calculating rent payments. It is trying to petition the state for permission to increase rents to bridge the shortfall.
In the meantime, the county is asking Wimauma Community Ltd. to continue paying the full amount on future bills plus $1,000 monthly toward the balance.
"We think these are generous terms and will lead to a resolution so that the tenants are not harmed in any way," said Water Department Director Mike McWeeny.