Bourbon Council Tightens Rules, Raises Fees After Renters Skip Out On Utility Bills

The Bourbon City Council on Sept. 16 voted to raise the fees for connecting water and sewer, which were not enough to cover the costs of connection.

By a 4-0 vote, the council raised the residential installation of water and sewer from $500 and $600, respectively, to $750 for both services.

For large sewer commercial service connections, the fee was set at $850. 

That fee is set aside for larger apartment complexes, such as triplexes or buildings that require a line over 4 inches. 

Ward 1 Alderman John Nelson, Ward 1 Alderwoman Margie Brine, Ward 2 Alderwoman Mary Heywood and Ward 2 Alderman Tim Davis were all in agreement.

The vote to raise those fees came a month after the council raised the reconnection fee for water and sewer customers, raised meter deposits and ended a grace program for late payments.

City Clerk Cathy Bremer reported during the Aug. 19 meeting that the city was losing money from renters on their utility bills.

Bremer said they were calling city hall with a “will pay” date when they would be able to pay. 

Renters still weren’t paying, Bremer said, then called again with another “will pay” date.

After that, they were skipping out on owing large water bills.

Bremer contacted neighboring cities, who had done away years ago with “will pay” arrangements. 

The city had notified customers on the August bills they would no longer accept “will pay” dates and they must pay or be disconnected from service.

The city also bumped up the disconnect fee, which wasn’t discouraging people from making late payments.

The late Danny Skaggs, who was mayor until his death in September 2019, lowered the disconnect fee from $50 to $25. 

Bremer said more residents than ever before are late and paying the $25 reconnect fee, which doesn’t cover the cost of sending the same employee to each residence to turn off the service and back on.

Brine motioned to raise the reconnect fee to $75, which was unanimously approved.

Bremer also suggested that the city raise the fee for meter deposits from $100 to $150 as the average bill is over the $100 deposit.

The council unanimously approved the measure.