Sewer Bill Delinquents Could Lose Water
200 Lower Macungie homeowners have until Nov. 28 to pay thousands in back sewer bills or their water will be shut off.
Some 200 Lower Macungie homeowners owing about $350,000 in delinquent sewer bills have until Nov. 28 to pay up or their water will be turned off, township officials said.
Fliers were placed on the doors of the 200 homeowners on Nov. 12 and 13 warning them of the impending water shutdown, according to Cassandra Williams, township director of finance. With 200 homeowners racking up $350,000 in unpaid bills, that works out to an average of $1,750 per homeowner.
"These were the worst offenders," said Township Manager Bruce Fosselman. "Some people owed thousands."
If the Lehigh County Authority shuts off a resident's water for unpaid sewer bills, it will cost that resident an additional $80 to get it turned on again.
Williams and Fosselman said they've heard from many of the delinquents since the fliers went out. Some said they didn't realize they had to pay for sewer service directly. "They thought it was part of their mortgage escrow," Fosselman said.
Fosselman said the township had sent these homeowners numerous sewer bills.
There will be more fliers going out to additional sewer scofflaws, he said.
Willet Thomas
8:56 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
Excellent article....well written. Delinquent residents should pay up or be shut off. Nice job weeding them out Bruce & Cassandra.
Margie Peterson
9:45 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
Thank you for your kind words about the story, Mr. Thomas.
atthebeach
1:08 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
I think that the author of the article could have left out the word "threatening". These fliers are not "threatening". These are not a menace. These fliers are meant to inform the people of what is expected of them. I pay my taxes and sewer bill. I would expect others to do the same.
Margie Peterson
1:20 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
That's a fair point, atthebeach. I'll take out the word "threatening."
Rob Hamill
2:03 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
How many of these non-payers were forced into public sewer when they had a functioning septic system?
Anthony Marinara
7:40 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Just how long did the county let these scofflaws off the hook ??? by my calculations...it appears that some 3 or more years ...I think we should consider tightening up the reins...a bit...no ?
Janet Persing
7:43 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
And how many just simply did not pay? And let the rest of us foot the bill. This problem has ballooned from $250K years ago until triple now. Water isn't free. Neither is pumping your poop. Guess I'm tired of the attitude: Whatyagonnadoaboutit? Shut off the delinquents would be a great first step--they've had enough time to waste everyone else's resource.