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Council tables immediate changes to sewer-cutoff policy after debate over fairness and costs
Summary
City staff reported 74 delinquent accounts and outlined existing rate-order rules (cutoff after two months). Council debated whether to cut off by dollar amount or months delinquent and tabled action to allow staff to recommend aligned policy and notice practices.
City staff told the council that 74 accounts were currently delinquent and asked for guidance on whether the city should change its enforcement approach. Roland Leal, MOC operator, said the current rate order authorizes cutoff after two months of delinquency and noted that, depending on account amounts, using a dollar threshold could unfairly penalize low-bill customers.
Leal outlined the financial burden of physical reconnection work and listed example costs the district uses when disconnecting service: a plug can be roughly $825, a physical cutoff $350 and deposits/additional fees might total $150; those costs can exceed the small past-due balances that prompted the council's discussion. "Some of these $20 accounts are gonna go 5 months before they hit a 100," Leal said, arguing that months-delinquent is a fairer trigger than a flat dollar amount.
Council members explored alternatives including better bill notifications (emphasizing delinquent months on bills and using red text), aligning enforcement with the rate order and possibly adding a fixed dollar threshold to the rate order for clarity. Mayor Vida B. Williams said she did not want to send residents into unpaid reconnection costs for small debts. After discussion, Council member Jones moved to table the enforcement change and return later with a recommended approach; the motion was seconded and the council agreed to defer the item for further study.
