Turkey commissioners from left, Patricia Tew, Anita Ezzell and Matthew Boyd silently contemplate whether to move forward with a debt collection program. On Thursday night, the board decided to table the issue until another meeting.
At Thursday night’s meeting, town mayor, Tim Clifton, introduced a program that would help the town collect funds from delinquent water bills. He expressed that the company is working with the League of Municipalities.
“We will be able to collect some money from delinquent accounts,” stated Clifton to the board. He also noted that it would be of no cost to the town, but it would cost an additional $15 to all of the delinquent accounts in the town. However, if a person owes less than $50, the town could not utilize this program to get the money back.
With this, commissioner Patricia Tew asked, “do we have a lot of delinquent accounts?” The mayor answered that he did not think that the town had a problem with this. Tew then asked to clarify exactly how many people would be classified to use this program. Town clerk Sarah White answered that there are only two customers in the town that currently owe over $60, with a grand total of delinquent fees being close to $200 this year.
However, White added, “But we can go back up to five years.” Meaning, the delinquent funds could come from accounts as early as 2004.
Commissioner Matthew Boyd questioned, "Do you know how they get their money?”
Clifton explained, “I know that they send a letter out first ... and they do what is necessary to do it.”
He then added, “from my understanding, we don’t have anything to do with it,” of the town’s responsibility.
Boyd then asked if the company was a public or private entity. The mayor stated that it was a private company that would be taking over this responsibility.
Clifton then asked what the board’s thinking on this program.
Attorney Billy Sutton questioned if this firm were in or out of state.
White pointed out that the company was out of Raleigh.
Sutton then expressed that he wanted to make sure that the town does not get in trouble if this company should do the collections improperly.
He then added, “but if the company are with references, I would feel comfortable with this ... You can’t beat the price.”
Commissioner Mike Smith, listening to the conversation commented with skepticism, “You don’t get nothing from nothing.”
Tew also added, “I don’t see how they would be getting $15 from the person.”
With this, the board fell to silence.
The silence broke when mayor Tim Clifton offered that the board should table the issue until its next meeting or approve it that night.
Tew motioned that the board table the issue. Mike Smith seconded it, and it was approved unanimously.
Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by email at silife@intrstar.net.
Post a Comment
