Cibolo park owner pays $8,150 for water

Treva Carpenter, co-owner of Shady Meadows Mobile Home Park in Cibolo, Texas, paid the city $8,150 out of her own pocket to restore water service this week. The payment resolved a temporary shutoff that left families in the park without running water for more than 24 hours.

Carpenter cited a $22,000 water bill that has gone unpaid since 2023 as the primary cause of the service interruption. She stated that her business partner had not been paying their share of the utility costs, leading to the accumulation of debt. The park is located off Farm-to-Market 78 and houses long-term residents who rely on the facility for basic utilities.

Julie Phillips, a resident who has lived at the park for over 20 years, contacted Carpenter on Tuesday to report the lack of water. Following the call, Carpenter spoke with the City of Cibolo to determine the requirements for reinstating service. The city agreed to a payment plan where $8,050 would be due by Wednesday and an additional $6,000 for utilities would be paid by the end of the year.

Carpenter reported that several tenants are also behind on their rent, with some owing thousands of dollars. She noted that this additional financial strain makes it harder to reduce the outstanding utility balance. While some residents discussed the possibility of a foreclosure, the property owner has not confirmed those reports.

Water service resumed after Carpenter made the initial payment. Phillips expressed relief that the water was back on but voiced concern about future disruptions. She stated, "I hope it stays on so we don’t have to move anywhere else, because we don’t have nothing saved up or anything like that to get out of here." The remaining $6,000 in utility payments is due before the year ends.