City of Guthrie awarded $286,000 toward legal fees

One more chapter came to an end between the City of Guthrie and Logan County Rural Water District #1 with still some chapters to be written.

Judge Phillip C. Corley awarded the city a little more than $286,000 in legal fees that was spent defending the city in the state case versus the water district.

“These fees are not required to be paid back to the City of Guthrie, but rather to our insurance company, OMAG, who paid the law firm that represented us,” City Manager Matt Mueller said.

The City of Guthrie prevailed in the state case brought forth by Logan County Rural Water District #1 in which they sought to compel the City of Guthrie to sell them water.

Mueller was quick to state that the status of the federal case, dealing with encroachment with the water district, will have any significant impact on the current settlement negotiations and remains optimistic.

“I am still optimistic that we have some very good discussions occurring with the (water) district right now and we may be able to put aside past differences and form a mutually beneficial partnership,” Mueller said.