KINGSLAND - Delinquent water customers in the City of Kingsland will have until Wednesday, Aug. 5, to pay off the full balance of their unpaid bills or face having their water shutoff, Mayor Samantha Johnson announced during last Thursday’s Kingsland City Council meeting.
Meanwhile, the city council approved an ordinance that separates the city recorder and city treasurer positions, and approved several ordinances that will change the way the city operates. Johnson said many of the resolutions were a product of the feedback she received while campaigning for the office.
Last Thursday was Johnson’s first full city council meeting after being appointed to the position by the council during its June meeting. She replaces Karen Wiscaver, who stepped down in June.
Johnson won the Republican primary election over Wiscaver and was set to officially take office on Jan. 1 since she was running unopposed in the November general election.
There was discussion about shutting off water to delinquent customers during the July meeting but no formal action was taken. Johnson told the city council last Thursday that she decided to send delinquent customers a letter explaining the city’s position, and let them know that their water would be shutoff Aug. 5 if their delinquent bills were not paid in full.
In an interview after the meeting, Johnson said the city’s financial software system does not allow for payment plans so the balance must be paid off in full to keep their water on. She said some delinquent balances are more than $1,000.
Unpaid water bills have been on going issue with the City of Kingsland. Johnson pointed out that the city’s water department has had to write off more than $30,000 in delinquent bills.
Johnson said those unpaid bills hurt the city during its statemandated Act 605 water rate study, which in turn forced the city to raise the rates to fund operation of the system. The study compares the amount of revenue collected by the water provider to its expenses. If the a…