Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utility Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lennox council tables proposed utility shutoff policy after questions on fees, hardship and meter options
Summary
City staff proposed a written utility shutoff policy standardizing notices, timelines and reconnection fees and introducing cold-weather protections and remote shutoff meter options; after discussion the council tabled the item for attorney review and staff revisions.
Kyle, introduced to the council by the mayor, presented a proposed utility shutoff policy and procedure intended to create a consistent, fair process for delinquent accounts and reduce inconsistent handling across utility billing and finance staff.
Kyle said the policy would standardize timelines and fees: bills due on the fifth of the month, late fees after the fifth, a disconnect notice on the 10th, and shutoffs occurring on the last Monday of the month if balances remain unpaid. He described consolidating disconnection and reconnection charges into a single $50 fee for billing simplicity and said that the late and reconnection fees are not a major revenue source: "It's not a revenue builder," he said.
The presentation covered options for multifamily and trailer-park properties that lack individual curb stops. Kyle described remote shutoff-capable meter devices as a retrofit option to allow individual disconnection within multi-unit buildings; he estimated those devices cost "about $700" each and contrasted that with currently used equipment (staff cited roughly $408 for current units).
Council members pressed staff on payment-plan mechanics and hardship protections. Kyle said medical hardship is already recognized in current policy and staff proposed formal written payment agreements (examples discussed included partial upfront payment and a timeline to pay the remainder). Council members asked for clearer language on whether accounts must be "current within" 60 days versus paying a portion and remaining on a plan; staff said the policy will be refined to state the expectation clearly.
Kyle also proposed a cold-weather protection: to avoid shutoffs when forecast conditions create public-safety or property-damage risk. He said the draft included an "extreme cold" clause that would prevent shutoffs when forecast highs are below negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
After discussion and direction to work with the city attorney on clearer standards for payment plans, hardship certification, reconnection and device ownership/maintenance, the council voted to table the policy; staff will return the item after attorney review and revisions.
