City of Belle loses suit after shutting off water service to apartment complex

On Friday, the City of Belle lost a small claims lawsuit against a company that claimed it shut off water services to the company’s property.

According to court documents, Landry’s Properties, LLC, said Belle Mayor, Steve Vogt, illegally shut off the water to a four-apartment complex on May 2.

“It should be noted that there is no due or past due water bills at this residence,” the documents state.

The property manager was not told about the shut off water until upset tenants informed him about it.

When the property manager contacted the city clerk, he was told the mayor ordered the shutoff over a tenant’s unpaid bill at a different property.

Maries County Sheriff, and company member, Chris Heitman said he contacted the mayor who claimed to have not ordered the shutoff. Heitman requested the water be turned back on.

About twenty minutes later, Heitman spoke with the clerk who continued to say the mayor ordered the shutoff.

That’s when Heitman filed the suit for one month’s rent and the cost of court fees.

“Some city officials felt they had the right to not follow their own city ordinances, and even after being confronted with their unlawful acts they continued to break the law,” wrote Heitman in a Facebook post. “I have been told that the city has committed these unlawful acts to other individuals as well.”

Heitman said he initially tried not to go to court to avoid unnecessary costs for the city, but that the city was “unwilling to correct their mistakes.”

The city denied all claims to the suit.

On Friday, a judge awarded $1,000 and service fees to Landry’s Properties, LLC.

The city has 10 days to either appeal or pay up.