CUYAHOGA FALLS: Falls City Council voted Monday to make some changes in utility deposit rules.
Homeowners still will not be asked to pay a deposit unless there is a history of late payments over the previous two-year period.
Landlords can have water and sewer bills sent to their tenants to pay, but the account must remain in the landlord’s name.
Cuyahoga Falls renters were previously required to pay a deposit when moving to a new address in the city. The deposit will now be waived for renters who have made 24 consecutive on-time payments.
The deposits range from $200 to $250.
Service Director Valerie Wax Carr said renters remain in the majority for delinquent utility bills. She said the utility department is willing to work with anyone having difficulty paying a bill.
“We don’t want to put anyone in a bad situation,” Carr said. “If people want to work with us, we will work with them. Just this week, we had people who signed promissory notes and did not pay, and they were shut off.”
Carr also does not think good customers should be held responsible for the sins of delinquent payers. That’s why the section covering deposit returns has been altered in the new law.
Since 2007, the deposits were held with the account until the customer terminated the service. Under the new law, deposits can be returned once a customer has had a good payment history for two years.
“I truly don’t want to punish the people who are paying their bills,” Carr said. “But we want two years. People would be fine the first year, then that second year have a problem paying.”
Connection and reconnection fees are waived for new customers, people moving out or those with emergency shutoffs. Fees for reconnection after an involuntary disconnection have been raised.
Before the vote, Ward 3 Councilman Ken Barnhardt asked to have the legislation tabled so that three constituents who called with concerns could address the council committee next week. That request was voted down, with the six Democrats voting against the motion, and the five Republicans voting yes.
The ordinance passed 11-0.