Council writes off old uncollected debt

HIGHFILL -- With no old or new business on the agenda, Highfill's city council approved writing off $7,225.92 in old uncollected debt at the direction of the state auditor.

According to Stacie Williamson, treasurer and clerk for the city, the city had tried to collect the old debt from former water and sewer customers but without success. She asked the council to approve writing off the debt.

Stacy Digby, mayor of Highfill, said the city's audits had gone well but that the state auditor suggested the city write off the old debt rather than continuing to carry it on the city's books.

Council members asked how quickly water is shut off when a customer doesn't pay and learned from Butch Wiand, the city's water and sewer supervisor, that water is shut off on the 25th of the month or shortly thereafter if customers haven't paid their monthly bills. Wiand said most customers pay to avoid shutoff or reconnect once the water is shut off but some move away owing the city for slightly more than a one-month period. He said deposits usually cover the bill but not always.

The amount written off by the council action includes penalties and late fees, so the actual amount the city has lost is considerably less, according to Digby.

Mayor Digby advised the council that the city's trash service contract would expire at the end of 2016 and he was considering putting the contract out to bid again to see if the city could obtain better service for the fees paid. He said he didn't know if the current provider, Waste Management, would be interested in renewing the current contract.

Digby said he would like to include, in a new contract, that the fees for trash service be collected by the trash company rather than by the city.

General News on 03/16/2016