Becky Crissman
Cordele Dispatch
Unadilla —
UNADILLA — Council members here voted Tuesday night to make some changes to their rules regarding utility late fees after fielding complaints from citizens.
According to the previous rules, the cut-off date for failure to pay utility bills was the 25th of the month, regardless of the day it fell on. With the new rules, if the 25th falls on the weekend or a holiday, customers will have until the following business day at 5 p.m. to pay.
When service is cut off, a $25 reconnection fee is charged. In July, about 45 citizens were charged the fee even though they paid their bills on Monday the 26th.
“I know of some people who had to go borrow the money to pay the reconnection to keep service because all they had was the money for their bill,” said Councilman Dexter Whittaker.
Now, if payment is made by the next business day, service will not be cut off, and no fee will be imposed. Council further decided that those citizens who were charged a late fee in July would receive a refund if their bills were paid on Monday, the 26th.
In other business, Desi Lester, proprietor of the Roxie Club asked again about getting a license for the retail sale of alcohol at his business. His request was denied at an earlier meeting.
City Attorney Tommy Coleman read from the same ordinance that he had during a May 25 meeting. The ordinance states that the business must be at least 100 yards (300 feet), property line to property line, from a church to be granted the license.
The ordinance also stipulates that if a business has held a license before, but has ever ceased operation, it cannot be grandfathered in and granted the license.
Coleman previously had advised the council that it could repeal the ordinance if it chooses.
Lester questioned why the state would issue a license and the city would not. A city can impose stricter rules than the state in such matters, but not weaker ones, Coleman said.
Council member Meredith Lester suggested scheduling a called meeting to allow both Lester and the city to present any evidence referencing the situation in the hopes of bringing closure one way or the other.
Mayor Charles West told Lester in the earlier meeting that he could request a hearing to appeal the council’s decision not to grant the license and that he should submit that request in writing to city hall.
Also on the agenda:
• Council members voted and approved a motion granting West permission to sign a contract with GMA Revenue Recovery Program. The contract had been previously reviewed by the city’s attorney.
GMA will handle collections on matters such as past due taxes as well as past due utility payments.
• Approved a transit operating contract with the Department of Transportation (DOT).
• Agreed to accept bids on the handling of probation fees.
The next meeting of the Unadilla City Council is scheduled for 6:30 on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010
