The Chamber of Commerce told Mayor Bob Morris to keep his water line when he offered to reconnect the organization’s building to a city meter.

Reading in Thursday’s Eunice News that the Chamber connection was costing the city nothing extra since the monthly consumption for the accounts was never more than the minimum, Morris said he realized he had acted hastily and wanted to do the right thing.

Chamber executive Robin McGee contacted her board members, who “decided we didn’t want to have any problems with the city in the future, so we’re not going to allow that.”

Morris disconnected the water on July 1.

Since then, the Chamber has had its own meter put in and is waiting for a volunteer to install the line from the meter to the building. Meanwhile a garden hose runs from the new meter, apparently providing water service though a symbolic portalet stands in front of the building.

The Chamber’s uncertainty regarding future relationships with the city prompted it to ask for an intergovernmental agreement regarding its use of city property.

The organization’s building rests on city property on C.C. Duson. It pays no rent for the space, and hasn’t since moving there in 1983.

Morris thinks Chamber members should rest easy regarding the site.

“As long as I’m in office, I will have no part in any eviction proceeding against the Chamber of Commerce and them moving that building, whatever the rent situation is,” he said.