Old law brings new complaints

Angry landlords attended this week’s Board of Alderman meeting in Hamilton to discuss the enforcement of a State statute that had laid dormant for many years and was recently brought to life. The statute required landlords to cover the cost of unpaid water/sewer bills of tenants who had left the city with delinquent balances. Landlord, Keith Gilbert, felt that it was not up to him to enforce the city’s utility bills adding that the city requires a $300 deposit before residents can hook up to the water lines, which should be enough to cover three months of an average utility bill. One of his tenants had been delinquent 13 times and he had never received a single notice or phone call from the city. He felt that it was up to the city to make sure they got paid for their water/sewer service, not up to him.

Joe Chadwick, another landlord, said he would have to have a water deposit also to cover his liability if he had a tenant that skipped out on him. He said if he evicted a tenant and they were disgruntled, they could turn their tap water on and let it run for their last 30 days, knowing he would be stuck with the bill. He asked the council to take a look at the statute and see if things could be done a better way.

City Attorney Robert Cowherd said that a State statute is a law set by the State, not by the city of Hamilton. 

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