Water utility, developer set for legal fight

DeHaven challenges, backs county in separate appeals

By Matthew S.L. Cate

The tangle between Central Arkansas Water and a developer who wants to build near its main water source plunged deeper Friday when the two sides became courtroom opponents.

The utility and Maumelle-based builder John "Jay" DeHaven for months have been negotiating over his roughly 965-acre project near the Maumelle River, from which nearly 400,000 central Arkansans get most of their water.

Water officials fear DeHaven's plans will pollute the water. DeHaven disagrees and wants to profit off his 2005 land investment. Both sides have attorneys at the ready.

Two sets of DeHaven plans are now on appeal before different Pulaski County Circuit Court judges.

For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Subscribers can read the story here on ArkansasOnline.