Board of Public Works discusses disconnection policy

Local resident Jerry Williams spoke on utility billing at the City of Kimball’s Board of Public Works meeting held May 26.

Williams, a former superintendent of Kimball Public Schools and 41-year resident, asked the board to reconsider the policy regarding termination of utility services for nonpayment. As “snowbirds,” Williams and his wife live in warmer climes during the cold months, but their electricity remains on while they are gone. The bill is sent directly to them at their winter home.

“I looked back in my previous history the last three years and I can’t find anything that I was late on,” Williams said.

During a recent call to the City of Kimball, Williams was informed that the electricity at his storage facility was about to be disconnected.

“I have more than one bill that I deal with here (the city) also, and I don’t even know when the city is going to get them to me because of the post office,” Williams said. “I didn’t know about the disconnection. The last thing I would think is that I am cut off.”

While Williams said he plans to take steps to ensure this is never an issue for him, he said he is concerned for others who may have difficulty getting their bills on time in other states or while away. Williams also said he was concerned for those who may have life-supporting appliances that require electricity and for other instances as well.

“I’m concerned about an accident that might happen, or somebody older, especially, forgetting and maybe in the winter having their power shut off and all of the sudden having problems also,” he said. “If something happened and someone was transported out of town to another hospital, it could be an issue. They could come home 10 or 12 days later and find no power in their house and things in their freezer ruined.”

Williams said he was told about seven people a month are regularly on the disconnect list at the city offices, though City Administrator Daniel Ortiz said it is quite a bit more than that.

“To say that we have on average seven per cycle and we have roughly five to seven cycles, per week it is roughly 20 to 35,” he said.

Ortiz said that as the days go on that number is whittled down to about seven, and while exceptions are made, there is too much going on for additional calls.

“What I am asking, I guess, is that when you look at the list if there is somebody on there that is unusual, why don’t you just call them?,” Williams asked.

Although he understands that policies are in place to equalize the treatment of all citizens, Williams said those who are continuously on the disconnection list should not necessarily receive a warning call.

“I just think that this is a small town, you know most people. I understand that maybe you are treating people a little bit different, but people get treated differently every day. But if I’m on that list every month you don’t have to call me, because I don’t think I’d deserve that,” Williams said.

“I really can’t argue a whole lot with what he has to say, when it comes to the post office, especially,” said board member Greg Robinson. “I just don’t know how we would put that in a policy to make it fair, equitable and consistent. Some get called and some don’t, that is where I am struggling.”

Board member Dawn Moeser said that she remembered discussing the what-ifs of hospitalization and added that the policy had an allowance for those in need, specifically during times of extreme heat and extreme cold.

Williams said the procedure could include a stipulation that if a person is not on the list for a certain amount of time, that they should receive a phone call. However, those on the list more often would already know, he said.

Ortiz recalled that when he came in several reminders were being sent out at great expense.

“In all actuality those that are on the list typically aren’t people that are on there on a rare occasion, they are our repeat customers,” Ortiz stated. “It would be really labor intensive to go back over that list, look at payment history and make that judgment call. It becomes problematic.”

“In a community of our size, after working in that office for three months, you don’t think you don’t know who people are or who is paying their bills? I would be very disappointed if they didn’t,” Williams replied. “Again I go back to if I am on that list a lot, I don’t deserve the call. If you’re not paying your bill on a regular basis, within a normal time those are people who are not responsible. If you are not paying your bill within a normal time, you don’t deserve those kinds of benefits or privileges.”

“With you guys being snowbirds, I would think that it would just be easier for you guys to set up a plan to where it just gets taken out of your account,” Moeser said.

Williams said that he is not concerned just for himself, but that calls to those who are usually on time with payments is still a good idea.

“I’ll guarantee you that if one of those ladies had a dad, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt or an uncle that appeared on the list, there would be a phone call, because they have access to the list. And is that wrong? No,” Williams said. “I know it is difficult, and I don’t have a solution for you exactly.”

No action was taken but the board is open to reviewing the policy for this and any other potential updates.

This particular policy has been in place for more than a year, according to Ortiz. The city administrator added that as far as he can remember, this is the first concern brought to the board’s attention regarding the procedure.

“We appreciate your comments and concerns and we will certainly give it some thought,” board chairman Jim Cederburg said.