Several Fayette property owners addressed concerns with the way the city is handling delinquent utility bills owed by former tenants at the most recent city council meeting held on Tuesday, October 27.

The principal concern is a delay between when the tenant moved out and when the landlord or property owner receives a bill. The city will also not allow a utility account on a property until old bills are paid.

The city recently decided to enforce an existing ordinance making property owners responsible for delinquent utility bills left by tenants who move out. The city said that $60,000 worth of utility bills are going unpaid by tenants, many of whom are college students, who move out without paying their final bills.

“I’m not here to argue that the city shouldn’t collect the money it’s owed. But there’s a difference between having an ordinance on the books and suddenly enforcing it in a way that property owners haven’t experienced or been prepared for,” said Martha Wiegers, who owns several rental properties in Fayette. “How are property owners supposed to prepare for a significant financial responsibility when they don’t even know it’s coming?”

Wiegers said she takes particular exception to the lack of communication by the city on the matter.

Joe and Kelly Vaughn echoed that sentiment, explaining they have paid past-due utility bills for tenants several months after they have moved out. That has caused issues with the business model because they are not receiving the bill until sometimes several months after the tenant has been paid back some or all of a rental deposit, and bills are being switched, unknowingly, back into the landlord’s name.

“I think it’s done wrong and mismanaged through the utility process,” Joe Vaughn told the council.

Wendy Cole cited concerns with not being allowed to turn utilities back on at properties until old bills are settled.

“It prevents us from being able to rent out the property and pay our mortgages, our city taxes, our county taxes,” she said.

Southwest Ward Alderman JB Waggoner agreed there is an administrative problem and wants to hold a meeting with property owners and city officials to improve the system. “The problem is that we have $60,000 in past-due bills on a $6 million city budget.”

Waggoner said if a solution is not found, the city will have to raise rates on all utility customers to cover the loss. He thanked property owners for bringing the matter to the council’s attention.

The property owners at the meeting all appeared prepared to meet with the city to refine how the matters are handled.