For 98 years, clear and sparkling water has flowed from Crystal Springs to Florence taps.
Whether that will remain the case in June 2019 is anyone’s guess after city council members on June 4 rejected a contract proposed by the family that owns the springs.
The DeForest family and Florence are coming to the end of a 99-year lease that allotted water to Florence for $500 per year.
Alta Vista resident Linda Long, one of four siblings in the DeForest family, said the family offered a new 10-year contract at a rate of $6,000 per year.
Inflation rates since 1920 indicate that $500 in 1920 would equal $6,264 in 2018.
Long said the contract, approved by lawyers for both the city and the family, was given to Mayor Bob Gayle in April but not put on a council agenda until this month.
Instead of voting to approve the contract, council member Matt Williams moved to set aside all previous offers and offer to purchase Crystal Springs for $60,000.
(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)