DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS City takes action against 72 water customers

Water service was terminated to 18 customers in four days.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The city collected $20,540 in delinquent water bills in its first four days of a crackdown on delinquent accounts.
"It's very good results," Mayor James J. Melfi said Friday of the shut-off program that began Monday.
Melfi said the program was instituted because there were a total 300 delinquent accounts, the highest being $2,500. Total delinquencies was $60,354.
The city had 72 customers that owed $500 or more.
Through Thursday, the mayor explained, action was taken against all 72. They were the worst offenders.
Either the accounts were made current by customers or they were placed on a payment plan. There were 18 shut-offs and one customer moved out.
Evictions
For those who had their service terminated, the cases were turned over to the city health department for eviction proceedings. A residence must have water to make it habitable, the mayor added.
The largest delinquent account was Trico Management, which operates apartments on North Highland Avenue. Trico owed $2,500.
Charles Doran, former 4th Ward councilman, paid his $1,100 delinquency.
Melfi said the city will now go after about 100 customers who owe a water bill of between $300 to $500.
"The goal is to bring people current and not shut off their water," Melfi asserted. "We are in the water business and want customers on a plan where they pay their bill off and become current."
Meter-reading system
One way to reduce delinquencies, the mayor said, is to institute an electronic meter-reading system, where readings are taken from outside of a building.
The city had meter readers at one time; however, there were a large amount of estimated bills, thus increasing delinquencies.
Currently, customers read their own meters and drop them off at city hall or telephone them in.
Although such a system of outside readings would be costly initially, all meters could be read in one to two days, the mayor explained, adding that the city has no immediate plans to implement the system.
yovich@vindy.com