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RISON COUNCIL ADOPTS WATER CUT-OFF POLICY

Monday, June 23, 2008 9:55 AM CDT

Special to The Commercial

RISON — Cutting off water service to customers who go 20 days past due on their water bills has become the official policy of the Rison Water Department.

The Rison City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday that sets out procedures for collecting and adjusting delinquent water, trash and sewer bills.

The legislation was the first measure approved under the administration of newly appointed Rison Mayor Vernon Dollar. Tuesday night was Dollar’s first time to oversee the city council in a regular monthly meeting.

The ordinance approved by the council outlines the procedures the city will take in regards to disconnecting water service for delinquent customers, making adjustments to water bills, and establishing various fees.

Dollar said there were bits and pieces about collection procedures in some other city ordinances, but he said he felt it would be best to have one document that outlined everything.

The ordinance comes on the heels of a major shut-off campaign that was carried out by the Rison Water Department in late May to collect past-due water bills. Water department officials reported that more than 80 delinquent bills were paid as a result of the effort.

The ordinance approved establishes the following procedures regarding Rison Water Department customers:

n Water bills, as “clearly noted” on the bill, are due by the 10th day of each month and must be paid by the 20th of each month or water service will be cut off. In order to have service restored, the customer must pay their bill, a $10 late fee and a reconnect fee, which is currently $50. The ordinance does not outline any procedures about issuing shut-off notices to customers.

n Customers may be granted one adjustment per calendar year for their water/sewer bills, unless additional adjustments “are deemed necessary due to emergency situations.” Any additional adjustments will have to be approved through the city council and mayor.

n Adjustments will be decided by one of the following procedures: (1) the customer’s bill will be cut in half with the customer paying the reduced amount plus sales tax on the original amount owed; or (2) the water bill will be pro-rated on an average of the customer’s last three water bills plus the sales tax on the original amount. The ordinance states that the procedure which benefits the city the most will be the one followed.

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