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Cordele commission adopts new utility late‑fee and reconnection policy, to activate with billing software rollout
Summary
After discussion about resident impact and notification, the commission adopted a utility-payment policy establishing a 5‑day grace period, a 10% penalty after the grace period, service cutoff if unpaid after 20 days, a $25 regular-hours reconnection fee and a $60 after‑hours per‑hour charge; implementation was linked to the Tyler billing-software rollout and set for July 1 activation.
The Cordele City Commission voted May 19 to change its utility-payment procedures, adding a 5-day grace period for bills, a 10% penalty after that grace period, and disconnection of service if the past-due amount plus penalty is not paid within 20 days. The resolution sets a $25 reconnection fee during regular hours and a $60 per-hour after-hours reconnection charge to cover overtime costs, and allows one customer-requested extension per calendar year for an additional $25.
City staff and commissioners discussed the operational impact: officials noted disconnects ran roughly 440–480 in April (with many reconnecting within 24 hours) and said the earlier grace/extension policy had been three months but would be shortened under the proposed rule. Staff recommended implementing the change in concert with the Tyler billing-software rollout; speakers said a July 1 activation would allow time to notify customers via the new system and by attaching informational letters to bills in the interim.
Several commissioners emphasized balancing revenue recovery with protections for residents on fixed incomes; staff were asked to track notification capacity and extension-processing procedures. The motion to adopt the resolution carried by voice vote.
