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Evart to reinstate 2017 utility shut-off policy as new debt service begins
Summary
City staff said the 2017 utility shut-off policy, suspended during the pandemic, will be reinstated now that debt-service from CWSRF and DWSRF loans begins this fiscal year; staff said residents will receive multiple notices and a payment-plan option before any shut-offs.
City staff told the Evart council at the Jan. 5 work session that the city will reinstate its utility shut-off policy, which had been adopted in 2017 and suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff said the timing is linked to the adopted debt-service obligations from Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loans that begin this fiscal year.
According to staff, reinstating the policy will allow the city to collect delinquent utility amounts in a timelier manner to meet debt-service obligations. Staff emphasized that residents will receive multiple notices and be offered a payment-plan option before any service is shut off. No vote or formal enforcement action was taken at the work session; staff will return with implementation details and procedures for notice and payment plans.
Council members asked for clarity about how many accounts are delinquent and how repayment plans would be administered; staff said those details will be supplied in a future staff report.
