Kearney amends utility code to allow limited late‑fee waivers

The Kearney Board of Aldermen on Sept. 2 approved an ordinance amending section 700.03 of the city code to allow staff to waive late fees on utility accounts in limited circumstances.After the ordinance passed unanimously, Stephanie Harris, finance director, told the board the change responds to recurring situations in which residents do not receive bills or miss automatic withdrawals. “One of the most frequent examples lately is we get returned bills to the city as undeliverable mail even though the address is correct,” Harris said, noting those customers often have good payment histories and ask for the fee to be waived.The ordinance creates a limited administrative waiver process. Harris explained the policy will be applied sparingly: waivers are available in documented cases such as undeliverable mail or where a customer’s credit card auto‑withdrawal failed, and the program will operate on a one‑per‑12‑month rolling period. Alderman Holt flagged a scrivener’s error in the ordinance language referring to a disconnection “free” and asked that the intended $50 disconnection fee be clarified; the board treated that as a clerical correction and proceeded.The board approved the ordinance on first and second readings in the same meeting, with Aldermen Holt, Spencer, King and Lehman recorded in the unanimous vote. The ordinance amends the municipal code only as described and does not change other billing deadlines or procedures noted in current policy.