Water shutoff notices getting results
POST FALLS - Water shutoffs and threats to do so got quick responses in Post Falls' quest to collect overdue sewer, sanitation and street light bills.
The East Greenacres Irrigation District and the city reached an agreement last month which adds teeth to fetching funds for unpaid utility balances.
More than $75,000 worth of debt from 115 accounts had accrued from residents in the district on the city's west side.
After sending a letter to delinquent customers last month stating they must pay their account in full by Tuesday of this week or contact the city to discuss a payment plan, the city has moved into the water shutoff phase to collect unpaid bills.
"The city (on Wednesday) tagged five houses for shutoff and only ended up shutting off one water service," said Jason Faulkner, the city's finance director, adding that a full payment was made in four of the cases.
In the one shutoff case, the resident made the full payment of $1,611 later in the day and water service was restored.
Faulkner said the largest debt - around $3,200 - was resolved before a shutoff occurred.
"At $44 per month, that's a lot of months (73) without paying," Faulkner said.
Faulkner said the city agreed with the request of EGID to ease into the shutoff phase before ramping up the enforcement because the irrigation district thought the action could lead to a flood of calls from concerned residents.
"We have made a little headway (on the debt) because we are taking it slow," Faulkner said. "However, the ones that the city tagged for shutoff have paid or made reasonable payment arrangements."
He said the accounts with higher balances are being approached first with shutoff notices.
"Some accounts with smaller balances have been paid," Faulkner said.
Faulkner said the city pursued the agreement with EGID for about 15 years. It entered a similar agreement with the Ross Point Water District on the city's east side in 1998.
Faulkner said the EGID board previously didn't believe the district could enter an agreement with the city because EGID was created by the federal government, not at the local level.
"The irrigation district has been great to work with since this agreement was signed," Faulkner said.
Faulkner said the city historically has filed liens on properties, gone to small claims court or sent delinquent utility accounts to collection agencies, but such methods have been "relatively unsuccessful."
Faulkner said one resident said the city, with the recent enforcement actions, "was coming at them at all angles."
While shutting off the water offers another way for the city to collect, Faulkner said, the city is open to reasonable payment plans, has offered suggestions on how residents can seek help and gave the residents fair warning.
"One lady said that she was able to receive a pledge from a nonprofit," he said.
Faulkner said collecting debt from residents who haven't been paying their bills is a matter of fairness. When the city uses the income for purposes such as repairs or upgrades, all citizens should be responsible to help out, he said.
During a city council meeting on Wednesday when the council heard an update on the enforcement, Mayor Ron Jacobson called the agreement with EGID "a huge step forward."
The city also disconnects water service to residents within the city limits and the Ross Point district who are delinquent on their accounts or don't set up a payment plan, Faulkner said.