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Sewer delinquencies shrinking in Jones Township |
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Wednesday, 16 July 2008 |
After sending out letters, residents of Jones Township are righting overdue bills.
By Heidi Zemach
Special to The Record
WILCOX – The Jones Township Municipal Authority learned that some of their biggest delinquent sewer payers are slowly coming around at last night's meeting. That’s perhaps the result of their attorney sending out notices alerting these customers to what they owe, and the fines, penalties or legal actions that could eventually result with continued failure to pay.
Currently, the authority has 19 accounts that are delinquent in amounts more than $500 apiece. The amount owed on those accounts totals more than $21,000, according to Treasurer/Secretary Rosmary Stahli.
For instance, one party paid $1,700 on a rental and another landlord paid $500 and promised to take care of the rest. A person who has bought a home in the township promised to take care of the bill owed. Another residents paid $200 in June and a settlement company said it would pay a bill of $1,894. One resident selling a home said they would pay when the deal is completed, while a landlord promised to pay $500 for his renter, The sheriff called and said another of the bills will be taken care of Stahli said.
“We’re slowly collecting them. Still more to go,” commented Authority Chair Dick Johnson.
“Every bit counts,” said Diane Rhodes.
A couple of months ago, the delinquent sewer bills totaled between $24,000 and $25,000, according to Stahli. The problem, of course, may be in part the sagging economy, personal hard times or the occasion when a person dies or moves elsewhere.
But Stahli said many elderly people on fixed incomes regularly pay their bills — even when times are difficult. She suggested the problem may be that the Authority is sewer only, unlike Authorities that deal with water and sewer and have their bills combined. When Municipal Authorities own the water company, delinquent customers can usually be persuaded to pay their bills by shutting off their water supply, Stahli said. That can’t be done with sewers.
There was no mention of the Authority's hope to purchase the private Wilcox Water Company from the Johnson family. The value of the business still needs to be assessed before a sale can take place.
In paying a $5,000 bill to Haines & Co, the company that audited the Municipal Authority in 2007, Boardmembers discussed a letter sent out to random customers causing confusion and some consternation. The letter apparently caused some customers to think they were being wrongly billed for something they had already paid. The Board feels such a letter should be more clearly written in future audits.
The inspector reported that one of the pumps is down at the Wilcox pump station, and may need to be taken to Pittsburgh and overhauled. Meanwhile, there is a backup pump.
John Williams, the representative for Rural Utility Services, (or RUS), the company who funded the sewer system, is ready to meet with the Municipal Authority and will do so at their next meeting on August 20, or possibly at another date, Johnson said.
Finally, the board praised the new community bulletin board outside the municipal office. They commended Stahli for the work she has been doing keeping it current and attractive looking. The board announces local happenings, such as local dances or fundraisers, and has become one of the main local sources of community information.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 18 July 2008 )
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