Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents tell Washington County commissioners about water cutoffs and missed trash pickups
Summary
Two residents described operational problems: a Roper resident asked the county to allow same-day water cut-offs/on and to accept electronic payments; another resident reported her trash sat uncollected for four days after contractor Republic experienced equipment problems.
During the public forum, Wesley Stokes of 395 Backwoods Road, Roper, told the board he found no water at his house after hearing his water heater make a noise and said his meter registered no flow. Stokes said he had previously used an abatement arrangement and had been paying $170 per month; he asked the board to allow electronic banking and urged the county to change the ordinance so a household could be cut off and restored the same day. "The County should use electronic banking," he said.
County Manager Curtis Potter responded with monthly operational figures for the Water Department: in January the department logged roughly 140 cut-offs and 59 cut-ons; February about 80 cut-offs and 32 cut-ons; March about 70 cut-offs and 40 cut-ons; and April about 30 cut-offs and 15 cut-ons. Potter said the sheer volume of cut-offs and cut-ons strains the department and that staff had been checking practices with other counties.
Quinterlene Bowen (McNair Road) said Republic, the countys trash hauler, left her trash uncollected for over four days. Chair Sexton and Mr. Potter said Republic reported "unforeseen difficulties," rented a truck and worked overtime to catch up; Potter noted drivers are subject to federal hours-of-service rules that limit overtime. No policy change or formal remedy was ordered at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to continue monitoring contractor performance.
