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Local landlord criticizes sanitary districtbilling, deposit handling practices
Summary
A landlord at the April 1 meeting criticized the districts deposit and final-bill procedures, saying deposits were included on final statements for sold properties and that bills were sometimes placed in third parties' names, causing collection and ownership issues.
Jim Shelton, a local property owner, used the meetings public-comment period to describe problems he said arise from the districts deposit and billing procedures. Shelton said he was not notified when the district began collecting a deposit, described a case where a final bill issued upon sale still showed a deposit charged to a tenant, and said he paid a deposit he did not receive back.
"This deposit idea is awful. It doesn't do anything," Shelton said, describing scenarios where the deposit appears as part of a final bill and where accounts end up in the name of a person who does not live at the property. He said one final bill showed a balance of about $135 and another account he referenced carried roughly $500 in unpaid charges that he only discovered after the sale.
Shelton also contrasted operations in neighboring counties, saying Madison County links water and sewer billing and requires a lease to place an account in a tenant's name, while Delaware County and local processes have allowed confusing outcomes.
Board members did not provide on-the-record corrections or a detailed staff response during the public-comment period. Shelton said he could pursue liens or court remedies but asked why deposits were sometimes included in final bills for sold properties and why notification had not occurred when the deposit policy began.
Why it matters: Billing and deposit procedures affect property owners, buyers and tenants; ambiguous practices can create unexpected liabilities for sellers and complicate collections. The district did not provide an on-the-record explanation during the April 1 meeting.
What happens next: Shelton's remarks were recorded in public comment; a formal staff response or policy clarification would be the likely next step if commissioners or district staff refer the issue for review.
