Growing Unease at Shadowood West and Hidden Lakes
Residents at two Macon apartment complexes are feeling unsettled as the threat of an imminent water shut-off hangs over their homes. Tenants at Shadowood West and Hidden Lakes Apartments, located on Mercer University Drive, found notices taped to their doors on Wednesday from the Macon Water Authority (MWA). The notices warned that utilities could be disrupted for non-payment by the property management company that operates both sites.
According to Ron Shipman, President and Executive Director of the MWA, the authority has been trying to contact South East Asset Management (SEAM), who owns the complexes, without success. "The last thing we want to do is interrupt services for our customers.
But we have bills that need paying," Shipman said. Now residents are left wondering what will happen next and where their rental payments have been going if not to water bills.
Related: How Long Can Apartment Shut Off Water?
Money Concerns at the Heart of Issue
One Hidden Lakes tenant, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution, told reporters, "All we know is that we pay rent each month thinking that covers utilities too. But now there are shut-off notices and no one can tell us why." They questioned why tenants should face losing access to water when rental payments have been made on time.
Other residents echoed similar worries that the management company may not have been using funds as intended. "Where's the money going if not to pay the water? That's what we want to know," said Shadowood West resident Marie Johnson. Johnson has a young child and relies on clean water access daily. Like others, she feels powerless not knowing if taps will suddenly run dry.
Management Yet to Provide Answers
Despite several attempts to gain clarification from SEAM, property managers have not responded to requests for comment from news outlets. Tenants have also reported being left in the dark by on-site staff about the precarious situation. The corporate office for SEAM in Atlanta has also remained unreachable.
With no explanation forthcoming, concern in the close-knit apartment communities continues to fester. Residents just want assurances their basic utility needs will be met and that rental payments are securing essential services, not disappearing elsewhere. The MWA says the ball remains in SEAM's court to address arrears and prevent service cuts. But without engagement, uncertainty looks set to persist.
