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La Porte revokes D & M discharge permit after repeated late payments, sets Friday deadline for payment
Summary
The La Porte Board of Public Works and Safety voted to revoke D & M’s wastewater discharge permit unless the company pays past-due invoices totaling about $7,400 by 4 p.m. Friday; board members said the company has been repeatedly late and the city will consider legal action for unpaid balances.
The La Porte Board of Public Works and Safety voted Wednesday to revoke the discharge permit for a commercial hauler identified in the meeting as D & M unless overdue charges are paid by 4 p.m. Friday.
The action followed repeated late payments, board members said. Jerry Jackson, wastewater, told the board the company has been “behind $7,514.38,” and that staff have temporarily revoked the permit multiple times in the past two years to manage repeated nonpayment. The board amended a motion to require payment by 4 p.m. Friday and approved the amended motion.
Why it matters: The permit revocation affects the company’s ability to discharge at the city treatment plant and is intended to limit administrative burden on wastewater staff and to enforce the city’s billing practices.
The board’s discussion distinguished enforcement steps from possible legal collection. Mayor Dermody and other members said the city could pursue a civil judgment for unpaid balances with assistance from City Attorney Otis; board members stressed legal costs should be kept low. The board directed staff to notify D & M that the permit will be revoked if the past-due balance is not settled by the deadline.
Wastewater staff described current billing practice: operators log each discharge by volume and issue a ticket that forms the basis of monthly billing. Board members discussed options to reduce staff workload going forward, including online payment options (OpenGov) and a prepayment or metered discharge system tied to planned improvements at the Hedbergs discharge station.
The vote: The board approved the amended motion to revoke the permit if payment was not received by the deadline. No additional penalties were adopted at the meeting; members discussed the separate option of initiating small-claims or civil collection for the outstanding balance.
What’s next: If D & M pays by the deadline, staff indicated conditions could be set if the company seeks to resume discharge privileges. If not paid, staff will proceed with permit revocation and may pursue legal collection.
