Late utility fee rates, reconnect fees rising in Thibodaux

Penalties for delinquent utility bills are getting stiffer in Thibodaux.

The city council voted last week to increase its delinquent account reconnect fees and add an additional cost for after-hour reconnects.

According to Finance Director Deborah Daigle, the city has an abundance of delinquent utility accounts – nearly 1,100 notices are issued monthly. Delinquent notices are sent on the 20th day the bill is due, she said.

Residents have at least five days after the delinquent notice is mailed to pay the bill before service is disconnected, Daigle said.

In 2007, the city disconnected service to nearly 2,400 homes. The number declined slightly in 2008, but she said the figure is still a high volume of cutoffs. The city has disconnected service at 899 homes in 2009.

“We do everything we can to help residents out,” Daigle said. “If they call us and let us know what’s going on, we can help them. But if they don’t, then how are we to know that they are having a problem?”

Thibodaux’s motto is “People First.” Toward that end, the Finance Department started giving residents behind on their utility payment courtesy calls.

In some cases, Daigle said the calls have prompted payment; however, others ignore the friendly warning.

“The courtesy calls are working,” she said. “But we do have those people who don’t bother with (paying) until (the utility) is cut off and then they come in and pay the bill.”

By enforcing stricter penalties, Daigle said delinquent utility customers would be held more accountable.

Thibodaux previously charged residents a $5 per meter reconnect fee – the same amount implemented in December 1975. Customers were not charged for after-hour reconnects.

The Finance Department investigated the rates of 19 other mid-sized cities in neighboring parishes. They found that Thibodaux is behind and needed to increase its fee.

Daigle said some cities charge $20 to $30 per meter to reconnect delinquent utilities, and they also charge $20 to $30 for after-hour reconnects.

“We already get our money on the back end,” she explained. “Utility accounts are paid after the service has been used.”

Redirecting manpower to either disconnect or reconnect meters – especially after hours – costs the city, Daigle said.

“Residents were only being charged $5,” she said. “We felt that something needed to be changed.”

The Finance Department had proposed charging residents $20 per meter along with the additional $20 after-hour fee.

However, council members said that charge was too steep for some residents who have fallen on hard economic times.

“The economy has placed a strain on everyone,” Council Chair Chad Mire said. “The $20 per meter is a little too much, I think. And sometimes the problem lies in that Public Works closes at 3 p.m., but we collect payments until 4:30 p.m. Those people who come after 3 p.m. will have to pay the $20 additional charge because the Public Works office is closed. That’s not fair to them.

“If we are going to increase our reconnect fee, then we need to push back our Public Works time to have someone scheduled to stay until 4:30 p.m.,” he added.

Councilman Varick Taylor Sr. amended the resolution to pose a $10 per meter charge for any delinquent reconnect service, along with an additional $20 after-hours fee. The council is negotiating extending Public Works’ hours to 4:30 p.m.

Anyone making a payment after closing time will be charged the additional fee.

The city council also held three condemnation hearings last week. Certified letters were sent to property owners to attend the meeting.

The first hearing was to discuss a structure located at 1221 General Nicholls Ave. Charles A. Taylor is the previous owner of the property. Mattie Williams, executrix of the succession for Taylor, asked the council for an extension. The council voted to defer the issue until it’s Nov. 3 meeting.

Property owners Charles and Ignatius Maggio, who own the property on St. Charles Street, also requested more time from the council to demolish the structure.

The council gave the Maggios 60 days to complete the work. Mire said 30 days was needed to secure a contractor and 30 days to complete the work.

The final hearing was for the structure located at 1504 Bell St. This property came before the council at its June 16 meeting.

Fredric Vicks Sr. and Mildred W. Vicks-August were the previous owners of the property. Jackson told the council that the family has an unopened succession for the estate.

One of the family members, Lillie Young, was present at the meeting on behalf of the family. Young said the family is looking to sell the property. The proposed buyer intends to repair the structure, she said.

Young said the family has a list of repairs provided by City Inspector Errol Price. Young said the potential buyer is waiting to meet with Price and the contractor.

The council gave the family 60 days to complete the work on the structure.