By: Marie Herndon
Barbara Manual was elected to the Prairie View City Council on May 3, 2025, and she has placed many items for discussion and/or action on City Council Agendas. Councilwoman Manuel placed an item on the February 9, 2026, Prairie View City Council Agenda to discuss, during “Executive Session”, her past due water bill, which has been due and owing since her final bill issued 03/01/2023 . Water service was disconnected and remains disconnected to date, according to the interim City Secretary, Vivian Rodgers.
Following all other city agenda items and before Mayor Ronald Leverett recessed the February 9th City Council Meeting, to go to the Conference Room for an executive session, Councilwoman Wendy Williams announced to the mayor and other city council members, in open session, that she had contacted the Texas Municipal League (TML) Legal Department, and was informed that a city council member’s unpaid water bill did not qualify pursuant to Chapter 551, Section 551.071 to receive legal advice and discussion, if necessary. Councilwoman Williams also stated that the City Council could not clear an unpaid water bill.
Council Member Manuel was asked and agreed to explain her reason for placing her past due water bill for discussion in Executive Session. Council Member Manuel admitted to entering into a payment plan with then Mayor Frank Jackson for a $3,231.29 past due water bill on July 14, 2015. She stated payments were made and the water bill was paid in full. Then, according to Councilwoman Manuel, on December 19, 2019, she was informed she had an- other past due water bill. That, she said, was wrong. (NOTE: Water service to the address in question has been disconnected for non-payment since at least 2023, and remains disconnected and unpaid to date.)
Councilwoman Williams stated she was present for the initial city attempt to help Councilwoman Manuel meet her utility payment obligation; however, she stopped making payments, as agreed, on her original payment plan and that water bill was never paid in full. The remaining balance and her then subsequent bill balance remains unpaid and water service to the address remains disconnected. Council member Malcolm Jackson asked Council Member Manuel what her objec- tive was for placing her personal water bill on the agenda. She stated, “Well, it need to be cleared.
This was paid in full.” City Attorney Paula Robnett expressed the matter seemed highly personal in nature and she and Carla would assist Councilwoman Manuel with this water bill issue and not charge her anything, (i.e., legal services). Council Member Barbara Manuel’s past due water bill was not addressed during the Prairie View City Council’s Executive Session.
The Prairie View City Council members receive a month- ly stipend of at least $700 and the councilwoman has made no payments on her documented approximately 3-year-old city debt. Prairie View residents who are experiencing long-term water service disconnection due to your past due water bill, you may be interested in how this one is “taken care of ” for a city council member with the free assistance of our Prairie View City Attorney.
