In a controversial move, the city of Okay, Oklahoma, has introduced a $10 monthly surcharge on water bills to fund its legal defense against a court ruling requiring it to compensate Melisa Robinson. The surcharge comes after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ordered the city to pay $73,000 in damages, an amount that has now reached around $200,000 with interest.
The dispute began when city workers installed a sewer line on Robinson’s property without permission in 2009. Robinson successfully sued for damages, but the city has refused to pay, instead opting to fight the ruling in court. The recent decision to impose a surcharge on residents is intended to cover the costs of this ongoing legal battle.
Residents are upset by the surcharge, which was approved without public input. Robinson criticized the city’s actions, saying, “It’s beyond belief that Okay would rather raise a surcharge to pay their attorneys rather than pay me what the court already says they owe.”
The city’s approach has raised concerns about the ethical use of public funds and the principle of just compensation as outlined in the Fifth Amendment. The Institute for Justice (IJ), representing Robinson, argues that the city’s refusal to comply with the court’s decision is a violation of constitutional rights.
This case highlights the broader issues of government accountability and the impact of legal disputes on local residents. As the city continues to fight the ruling, its residents are left grappling with the financial consequences of the surcharge and questioning the fairness of their city’s actions.
