The City of Tenaha could be in line for a possible hefty fine for not issuing letters on time to citizens concerning water issues required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Mayor Orinthia Johnson told us yesterday the letters should have gone out by Feb. 24, but the city just let the deadline slip up on them and now may have to pay a fine. A post, complete with a case number of the violation was made on the Facebook page of a group known as Tenaha Citizens Involvement Association, saying the fine was $38,401. When I asked Mayor Johnson if this was in fact the amount, he said the letter he received from TCEQ stated the fine could possibly be up to that much. However, Mayor Johnson said he was told by the agency if the City of Tenaha submitted the proper paperwork and made the effort to right the oversight, the fine, if any at all, would be much less.

The mayor said the TCEQ required the City of Tenaha to inform water customers in the event of water line breaks and other issues that the quality of their water may be affected, which is a standard practice. The TCEQ says the City of Tenaha was in violation of Texas Health & Safety Code.

You may remember we had a story concerning the discoloration and odor of the City of Tenaha water a few weeks ago. Mayor Johnson said the TCEQ violation had nothing to do with that situation.