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Resident asks why prior tenant’s water was not disconnected after multiple notices; deposit policy questioned
Summary
A resident, Jerry Wohler, told the council that a former tenant received multiple disconnect notices in July and August 2024 but was reportedly shut off later and still owes $729.75; after applying the deposit the remaining balance is $604.75 and Wohler urged raising the deposit above $200.
During public input at the Dec. 18 meeting, local resident Jerry Wohler asked the council why a prior tenant had not been disconnected after successive notices and recited the amounts and dates of those notices.
Wohler said he first received a disconnect notice dated around July 19, 2024 stating $248.11 was owed and that service would be shut off if unpaid by July 30. He said a second notice dated about Aug. 20 stated $418.54 and warned of shutoff by Aug. 30. Wohler said he later received a letter indicating the tenant was shut off in September and that the account balance was $729.75.
Wohler told the council he removed the deposit from the account and that the tenant now owes $604.75. He asked whether promised payments had been made and urged the city to raise the customer deposit above the $200 level that the council recently approved.
City Clerk Ashley Fry asked Wohler if he recalled a call from City Hall to the tenant; Wohler said he remembered a call that indicated it was acceptable to proceed with shutoff when appropriate. The minutes do not record a confirmation from staff that the payments Wohler referenced were received.
Why it matters: the exchange raises questions about how utility shutoffs and deposit levels are handled and whether communication between property owners, tenants and city staff is consistently tracked. The council did not take a separate vote on changes to deposit policy at the Dec. 18 meeting.
Next step: the council scheduled a water/wastewater committee meeting for Jan. 2, 2025 following the regular council meeting; the minutes do not show a staff follow‑up reported on the tenant’s payments.
