V Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute
The North East Texas Municipal Water District (NETMWD) approved a “Mutual Separation Agreement” between them and General Manager Wayne Owen during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting.
“The Board of Directors of Northeast Texas Municipal Water District and I have mutually decided to end my employment. I have 18 months remaining on an employment agreement. I have offered to depart early due to concerns over my involvement in Lake O’ the Pines water sale,” said Owen in a release to KMHT.
The agreement is effective April 1, 2025. Other specifics of the agreement were not mentioned during the meeting.
The Board also approved appointing current Business Manager Osiris Brantley to be the interim General Manager, effective April 1, while a search is conducted for the position. Details of whether she would receive any additional salary for the interim position was not discussed during the meeting.
“This evening, the Director of NETWDB and the architect of the plan to take our water from Lake O’ the Pines and give it to Dallas has resigned,” State Representative Jay Dean stated in a FaceBook post. “Wayne Owens has stepped down! While this is certainly a battle won and a victory we should celebrate, the war is not over and there will still be a vote by the seven cities on whether they will sell or not. But this is a HUGE victory for us in East Texas and I’m so incredibly proud to have such an outstanding group of amazing citizens standing shoulder to shoulder with me fighting to save our lakes.”
Over an hour of public comment opened the meeting with familiar statements of the impact on the lakes (Caddo and Lake O’the Pines), the economic future of the region, concerns over the board’s transparency in the sale, and loss of trust in the board directors. Approximately 135 people were in attendance at the meeting, which was moved to the Morris County Annex in Daingerfield to accommodate the anticipated attendance.
“You’re on the wrong side of this transaction,” said Jefferson resident Bob Sanders.
“Getting rid of Wayne Owen does not get rid of the problem,” said Nelson Roach.
Roach went on to explain how prior to Owen’s employment NETMWD had reported 100% usage of the water in LOP. Roach said Owen stopped reporting the recreational use of the available water and never reported the environmental flows. Roach said it was so that [Owen] could show there was unused water [and make the sale easier].
“That was reckless, false, fraudulent, and imperiled [NETMWD’s] permit,” Roach said.
Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur encouraged the Board to “take a step back and listen to the people in the room and your constituents” before making any more decisions on the proposed sale.
In other business the Board heard updates on the financial status, of the District and an update on the production and operations of the District.
The Jimplecute has requested a copy of the separation agreement but has not received it as of press time Wednesday.
Update: The Jimplecute received a copy of the separation agreement late Wednesday. Owen will receive 7.5 months salary, or $140,000 minus all applicable payroll taxes, withholdings and deductions, as severance.