Property owner tells board he’s being billed for tenants and a deceased resident

Michael Turrie, who identified himself during public comment, told the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Board he owns multiple rental properties and that the utility repeatedly bills him for tenants’ unpaid water and sewer charges.

"I send them checks," Turrie said, describing multiple accounts he says he paid on behalf of tenants. He complained that staff gave inconsistent answers about billing and said he has been held responsible for a bill tied to a deceased resident. "I'm paying for a dead person's water bill," he said.

Turrie argued the municipal ordinance should be "fair and equitable" and said he felt the current practice effectively forced property owners to shoulder tenants' unpaid bills. Board members and staff responded by citing the ordinance and state administrative rules. An unidentified board member (Speaker 7) said the utility applies the rules in the ordinance and statute and suggested that if Turrie believes the ordinance is unconstitutional he pursue recourse through the courts or seek legislative change. "We apply the rules that are in the ordinance and in the statute," the board member said.

Staff noted there are administrative and legal mechanisms that can be used to challenge the application of billing rules and suggested Turrie consult his city council member or legislator for ordinance changes. The board did not take immediate action on the complaint at the meeting.

Next steps: Board members recommended Turrie pursue formal legal or legislative remedies if he believes the ordinance is applied incorrectly; staff did not present a separate billing-policy proposal at the meeting.