Responding to concerns from property owners who are left holding unpaid water bills when renters move, Mayor Charles Cotterill and Maysville City Commissioners will consider changing the way delinquent bills are handled.
Tommy Henderson was among the property owners who addressed commissioners, saying he did not realize he was signing an agreement to be responsible for unpaid bills at his rental property until he was told the city could not resume service to a property until a bill left by a prior tenant was paid.
“Why am I responsible for somebody’s else’s bill?” he said, adding that he refused to sign another agreement once he learned what it required. According to other property owners who spoke up on the issue, Henderson’s situation is not unique.
“I’ve actually paid some of those water bills,” Sean Myrick said. “To me, it’s double jeopardy.” He said tenants often tear up houses before they move out, leaving him with not only an unpaid utility bill but also with damaged property. Having to pay that tenant’s bills simply adds insult to injury, he indicated.
Myrick and others suggested the city move faster to stop service when water bills are not paid instead of waiting for an extended period which can be as much as two months before a cut-off notice is issued.
Cotterill said he expects there will be changes in the way the city does business and that could include quicker shut-off for unpaid bills and higher deposits for connection.
“It’s a simple solution to the problem,” he said.
Commissioner Andrew Wood said there has been “a lot of talk and a lot of activity on this issue in the last few weeks.” He indicated an adhoc committee has been considering the issue.
“We want to fix it right the first time,” Wood said.
The city currently requires a $145 deposit, according to Controller Penny Francis.
Cotterill appointed Wood and Commissioner Kelly Ashley to a committee to come up with a suggestion on how to address the issue which may be considered at the city’s next meeting.
Resident Jenny Dalzell also addressed commissioners concerning new rules at the Maysville Cemetery that prohibit objects such as shepherd’s hooks and solar lights from being placed on gravesites.
“We paid for the graves. Are they still ours?” she said.
City Manager Matt Wallingford said the new rules were made to protect cemetery employees from injuries which could occur from objects that could cause issues when mowing. He said the cemetery board looked at regulations from cemeteries of similar sizes before approving the new rules.
Dalzell said she was unaware of the new rules and was unable to retrieve items before they were removed from the cemetery where relatives are buried. Wallingford said all items taken from gravesites were saved and she is welcome to come to the cemetery and retrieve her property.
Speaking on behalf of the Human Rights Commission and in support of the Women’s Crisis Center, Mike Thomas appeared before commissioners to appeal to city leaders to expand Green Dot training for employees from a one-hour orientation planned for Monday to a future four-hour bystander session.
Maysville is working to become the nation’s first Green Dot City.
Green Dot is a violence prevention program. The Green Dot goal is to create a safer community.
Commissioners also held the first reading of an ordinance adding a second commission meeting to the city’s schedule each month on the Tuesday prior to the second Thursday. Commissioners said the meeting will be more of a work session but could include votes on measures in some instances. The meetings will, as always, be open to the public.
Commissioners approved the retirement of Police Officer Ken Fuller, and agreed to sell the canine he handled to the Augusta Police Department for $5,500. Police Chief Ron Rice said it is more economically feasible to buy and train a new dog than to retrain the current police dog to work with a new handler.
In other business, commissioners:
— Approved the consent agenda with department reports and board appointments.
— Approved a series of resolutions involving Community Development Block Grant programs in conjunction with the CDBG for the floodwall pump project.
— Heard from Wallingford that the city’s first quarterly clean-up efforts will be held April 19-29. Dumpsters will be placed in designated areas and packers stationed at the dumpsters on a rotating basis to keep them emptied. A citywide clean-up day is scheduled for April 20.
