CORYELL COUNTY, Texas — A Coryell County family has reached out to 6 News for help as they've been trying to get Atmos Energy to repair their property after they started a pipeline project nearly six years ago.
Randy Erwin is trying to get his family's property back to its original state before Atmos Energy replaced a decades old pipeline that ran through the property. Although construction for the project on the Erwin's property was completed, Erwin said there was still more work to do.
"As far as they were concerned, it was done and they weren't going to do anything else," Erwin said. "You would think Atmos would have the contractor do what he was supposed to do."
Erwin says his mother's property hasn't been the same since. He also said promises were broken.
"[The land agent] said any tree damage, any damage at all, we'll take care of it 100 percent," Erwin recalled. "They didn't. He lied right to our face."
Erwin showed 6 News the messy mayhem in June that they've been trying to get resolved for six years.
"We had everything terraced where the water ran where it was supposed to and it stayed off your roads," said Corinne Erwin, owner of the property. "It had a place to go and they messed all that up and left it."
The completed work is washing out the road on the property, creating larger issues. It's flooding out the barn too, and sending water closer to the house.
"The distribution line from the meter comes right up here and across," Randy Erwin showed 6 News. "It's too high in the ditch and we can't clean the ditch out to get the water around there, but they don't care."
On top of the dirt and road work, four large live oak trees valued at more than $40,000 were taken out of the property. Atmos Energy told the Erwins there was no way of keeping the trees on their land.
"They need to pay for the trees just like the land agent said they would when we first met," Randy Erwin said. "They took the trees out before we could get an arborist over here to put a price on, but he measured the stumps and I had pictures of every tree they took out and he gave us a price on them."
6 News reached out to Atmos Energy to get a comment about the six-year-old complaint. They declined to comment but said they would work directly with the Erwins. Here is what their email statement read:
"Atmos Energy is committed to the safety of our employees and communities, delivering a reliable source of energy and providing exceptional customer service. We have been and are working directly with the customer, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention."
6 News can confirm they are staying true to their word. There have even been new developments in the Erwin's case happening just this week.
However, Erwin says time's a-ticking and the damage is only worsening. If Atmos Energy isn't going to hold up their end of the deal, the broken promises will fall back on them and it will be costly.
"It will be up to us most likely to fix it, but you know I sort of give them a little time, but you know my patience is gone," Randy Erwin said.
The damage from the property has become a huge undertaking for Erwin as he works to keep the promise he made to his late father. He's doing this for his dad and his mom.
"Well, I worked out here with daddy for 20 years," Randy Erwin said. "Lots of hours, lots of fun. When he was getting toward the end of his life, I promised him that I would take care of it."
Erwin's mom Corinne said he's definitely tried his best.
The Erwins said Atmos Energy is looking to have a representative walk the property as the company continues to investigate the claim.
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