Turkey water technician Travis Anderson talks with the town board about his reservations with changing the water cutoff policy. On Thursday night, the board voted unanimously to stop turning the water off if a person owes less than $10 and plans to pay the following month.
The change was brought up Thursday night by mayor Tim Clifton when he spoke of one resident who was frustrated about his water being turned off for just owing $2.Clifton felt that the current policy should be altered to help residents and to continue to have good public relations with them.
Commissioner Patricia Tew said she, too, talked with the frustrated resident and agreed that his water should not have been turned off.
“I don’t think we should cut the water off for less than $10,” said Tew, who said she would be in favor of tagging the delinquent funds onto the next month’s bill.
Travis Anderson, who is in charge of cutting off water for delinquent bills, was present and stated that he was aware of this resident. However, he felt the customer was given enough time to pay the bill.
“That customer was not one month late; he was two months late when we cut him off,” said Anderson.
Town clerk Sarah White, who handles all of the town’s water business, noted that residents actually get a month and a half grace period before the water is turned off. White noted that she has clients who come in every month because their water has been turned off.
Still, Clifton felt that some action needed to be taken to help calm the frustration over water cutoffs.
Commissioner Mike Smith commented, “I agree. I think we should should go with Patsy’s (Tew) idea.”
As an alternative, Anderson suggested that the town consider putting customers on a bank draft.
White said she has looked into the bank draft idea, but it would end up costing the town more money.However, she did say some residents have taken steps on their own by having the bank draft payments to her.
With this, Tew motioned for the change in the water policy, and commissioner Anita Ezzell seconded it. It was approved unanimously.
Following the vote, Clifton asked town clerk and board members, “Now, we don’t have to advertise this change?”
As members answered , “No,” Anderson added, “If you do advertise, you might as well take $10 off every bill,” meaning, residents would take advantage of the policy.Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.
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