Town to work with customers who have past due bills
Monday night, the Jay council discussed how to address the almost $6,000 past due water, gas and sewer accounts, although no changes were or decisions were made on how to handle them.
With the recent installation of new meters and the rate increases, customers have received higher bills. Several residents and business owners have complained at recent council meetings that the increase creates hardships for them or their organizations. Several non-profit businesses and churches have requested an adjustment as a result.
“Whatever the past due amount is we split into six equal payments,” said Operations Manager Eric Seib. “That amount is to paid on top of their bill until they are paid in full.”
Seib said there are six customers with locked meters, but when someone comes in to say they cannot pay all at once, the town will work with them to let them pay in increments until the bill is paid. Those who do not contact the office and do not make an effort to pay are usually cut off.
The revenue created for the town from the water, sewer and gas services is about $81,000 monthly. Of that, 10 percent is over 60 days and about 10 percent is being cutoff or on a payment plan.
Mayor Shon Owens said he was not aware a payment plan was in place and was not sure what the council had discussed in the past on how to address past dues.
Owens asked Town Attorney Steve Cozart about the legal implications if available payment plan across the board has not officially been put in place. Cozart said he would have to do research to see what the council had decided or approved in the past, if anything.
“What you can't do is treat one person this way and then turn around and treat someone else completely different” said Cozart.
“I would like to see us help people if we can,” said Councilman Josh Holloway. “I want to be equal to everybody.”
Council members did agree that it is acceptable when a resident experiencing a financial hardship makes an effort to pay the bill.
