Hamilton citizens converge on City Hall

City of Hamilton Aldermen met for their regular session on Wednesday to a group of people, leaving standing room only in a crowded city hall. During “public participation” many were angry about having their water cut off during the holiday weekend. The city provided to the citizens arriving a copy of the city’s utility shut off procedure anticipating this would be the main topic of discussion.

Citizens were angry about getting a notice that their water would be shut off if their bill was not paid within five days. Approximately 65 cards were handed out or placed on doors informing citizens of the cut off. Many came in city hall and paid but there were 14 people that were shut off for non-payment.

Many complained that the city changed to a new billing procedure that they were not aware of. Kelly Pingleton of Hamilton attended the meeting in support of a friend that had her water shut off. She said the procedure that the city had followed in the past nine years, was for the bills go out on the 1^st of the month with payment due by the 10^th, if not paid by the 20^th, a $25 late fee is assessed. On the 10^th of the following month the citizen receives a letter stating that their water will be shut off in five working days if the bill is not paid.

City Administrator, Jean Van Iperen said that due to lack of training the new billing clerk had to resort to the current ordinance which states as follows: a bill is delinquent on the 20^th, a notice is given on the 21^st that their water will be shut off in five working days if their bill is not paid. Those people who were delinquent in June had a $25 late fee, along with a $20 disconnect fee and a $60 re-connect fee, a total of $105 added fees to pay in order to get reconnected.

City Attorney, Robert Cowherd, said it was up to the citizens to know the law, “not knowing the law is not an excuse.” 

For the rest of this story, see this week's edition of the Caldwell County News!