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Council approves $8,261.51 in aged utility account write‑offs
Summary
Sherburn City Council approved writing off 17 aged utility accounts totaling $8,261.51 after staff reported many accounts dated from 2022–2025 and attempts to collect failed; staff said addresses were current but former account holders could not be located or accounts had been deactivated.
Sherburn City Council approved a motion to write off $8,261.51 in unpaid utility balances across 17 accounts after staff described repeated collection efforts and unlocatable debtors.
Sean, a city staff member, told council the accounts span 2022–2025, include several with no identifying information and several involving deaths, sales of properties or tenants who did not provide billing information. Staff said they had sent multiple letters and applied penalties but received no responses; some accounts are returning errors in the city's billing migration to a new platform because payments are tied to other active accounts.
Council moved and seconded to approve the write‑offs to clear the outstanding balances from the utility system and to avoid ongoing errors in billing reports. A voice vote carried the motion.
Staff said two of the accounts are recent and the remainder are older, pre‑staff cases; the write‑offs will be reflected in the adjustment reports presented under consent agenda items going forward. No individual account names or addresses were read into the record during the motion.
Council did not discuss pursuing legal action for the older accounts; staff noted limits in locating responsible parties for older debts.
