Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Mail Tribune 100 Comcast moves to replace Charter in Southern Oregon Emergency Services Former Medford gymnastics teacher arrested again on child pornography charges Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Former Medford gymnastics teacher arrested again on child pornography charges California women sentenced in travelers check scheme UPDATED: Five vehicles involved in Monday evening crash Emergency services Politics and Elections Mark L. Hopkins: What the next election should be about Senate race could be expensive Talent to consider taxing recreational, but not medicinal marijuana Candidate files false statements Just one seat will be contested for Central Point council Education Students flock to Ashland schools Central Point launches language immersion program UPDATED: Medford school bus in crash; no students hurt, officials say Free TED talk simulcast in Ashland Bear spotted near Central Point school Environment New disease strikes Roseburg deer herds Dredgers might return to the Rogue next year Dubs' auction preview draws bidders and gawkers OR-7's pups are true wolves ODFW director Elicker will step down State news Nation - World Obituaries Arlene Louise Kornstad Donald Chester Erickson Norma Jean Snow Marcia L Allen Jerilyn J. Schoenhals Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Carter, Black Tornado fend off Grants Pass Pena drives Crusaders to shutout (No heading) Mercury crush Sky in Game 2 of WNBA Finals (No heading) Varsity 541 College Sports Adjusting on the fly Raiders will return to Ashland High gridiron Challengers open season with win Washington cornerback suspended after last week’s sideline tantrum Young Ducks grow up in hurry Pro Sports (No heading) Mercury crush Sky in Game 2 of WNBA Finals (No heading) Goodell: No one at NFL saw video earlier Healthy at last, Wheaton shines for Steelers Community Sports Barry fires back into SOGC finals Super seniors strong at SOGC Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Murphy claims victory in Stroke Play Championships South Korea downs Chicago for World Series title Business Latest Stories Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Blog: So just what will those investigative law firms find beneath the Harry & David rock pile? Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales Sustainable Valley receives $50,000 SBA grant Blog: And the Award Goes to... Real Estate News Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales People In Business Transportation Agriculture 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Sept. 10 Catherine Rampell: Only college graduates need apply Fighting back against domestic violence Letters to the Editor, Sept. 9 Kent Bush: Law enforcement’s routine acts of bravery taken for granted Editorials Fighting back against domestic violence Tablet computers are a tool, not a frill Other Views: The time is now to start disaster planning Harry & David: the next chapter An unresolved conflict; A judge declines to say if county laws trump city laws Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 10 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 9 We march for mental health on Saturday. Who’s watching? Letters to the Editor, Sept. 8 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 7 Guest Opinions Hazardous fuel treatments vital to protection from severe wildfires Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch The power of local philanthropy Lifestyle Latest stories Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Community blog: What's Wrong With This Picture? Community blog: Middle East's 'peanut butter' on the rise in U.S. Community blog: We Need to Talk Oregon's Top 5 wilderness areas Food Community blog: Middle East's 'peanut butter' on the rise in U.S. Community blog: 'Crispy Treats' a cut above rice-cereal originals The peace potential of cobblers and crisps Lunchbox recipes Community blog: Try this sweet treat for back-to-school snacking Home and Garden Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Trees aren't always the best companions for plants Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden An August checklist for your garden Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Health Community blog: What's Wrong With This Picture? Community blog: We Need to Talk Down-size is the right size Oregon Health Policy Board to meet in Medford Community blog: Health is More than Meets the Eye Hiking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Milestones and Achievements Grange memberships going like hot cakes New Arrivals Engagement Wedding: Gibson-Hodnefield New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Musical 'Backwards in High Heels' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Kathleen Madigan to perform at the Craterian Ashland Contemporary Theatre gets dialectic with "Freud's Last Session" Live Music in Local Clubs Rodney Carrington at Britt Theater CultureFest at Oregon Shakespeare Festival Musical 'Backwards in High Heels' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Ashland Contemporary Theatre gets dialectic with "Freud's Last Session" 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre OSF presents 'The Alchemy of Gender' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Rob Zombie plays Lithia Amphitheater Jennifer Nettles plays Britt Keith Greeninger and Matt Hill at the Rogue Theatre Britt Festivals adds to indoor fall concert lineup Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 5 Things to Do This Weekend From business professor to artist Shady Cove Tie Days Swap Meet 'Prints From the Plateau' at the Rogue Gallery Dining Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. NW Raw Kelly's Crepes Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Jackson County crow found to be infected with West Nile virus ... California women sentenced in travelers check scheme ... UPDATED: Five vehicles involved in Monday evening crash ... Jackson County crow found to be infected with West Nile virus ... California women sentenced in travelers check scheme ... UPDATED: Five vehicles involved in Monday evening crash ... MEDFORD Medford sees rise in unpaid utility bills Nearly $500,000 past due; Council weighs citations or liens By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2014 @ 4:48 pm By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2014 @ 4:48 pm » Social News A spike in Medford customers who don’t pay their utility fees after a problem-plagued billing system rolled out last year has worried city officials. “There are 802 customers who have not paid us since we separated,” said Lorraine Peterson, the city’s business manager. The Medford Water Commission and the city created two different billing systems last year, which have caused confusion among customers and taken away the city’s best tool for getting someone to pay their bill: The city can no longer turn off the water, which used to prompt almost immediate payment. “We don’t have the ability to shut off anything, so we don’t have a big stick,” Peterson said. Each month, the city sends out bills for fees related to streets, sewers, storm drains, parks and public safety. To get more customers to pay, the City Council last week agreed to explore options that could include issuing citations to property owners who don’t pay or to place liens on their properties. The city now has 2,224 customers, or almost 10 percent of its 25,000 customers, who have not paid their bills for 90 days or more, adding up to $475,188 that is past due. As of July 16, 4,893 customers, mostly residential, had accumulated late fees at various times over the past year. Of these customers, 983 had as many as six or seven late fees over the past year. Despite the increase in late payments or no payments, the city has managed to collect more fee revenue in 2013-2014 than in 2012-2013. For sewer fees, the amount collected rose a little over half a percent to $3.4 million. Street fees jumped more than 5 percent to $8.1 million. Storm drain fees also went up more than 5 percent to $4.6 million. Parks got almost 1 percent more at $1.3 million. Public safety saw a 33-percent increase because the City Council raised rates to cover the new police and fire buildings, bringing in almost $1.5 million. The city itself also has had difficulties with its new billing system. Because of a software glitch, the city of Canby had been receiving credit for some bills from Medford. Also, there have been delays in sending out the mail. The city has waived many of the late fees since the past year, most because of problems with mail delivery. Also, late fees have been listed as “miscellaneous fees” on billing statements, which caused confusion among customers. The “miscellaneous fee” problem should be resolved this fall, Peterson said. Currently, the city charges a $15 late fee, but the council will consider a proposal to reduce the late fee to $5 or 1 percent of the bill, whichever is greater. Councilor Dick Gordon said the city’s 25-day window to pay utility bills may not be enough time, particularly for the elderly whose only income is their monthly Social Security check. He said the timing of the utility bill and the date of receipt of the Social Security check don’t always line up. “We need to give people more time than just 25 days,” he said. City officials say they want to weigh their options carefully because they have received many complaints about the new billing system over the past year. “I get more calls about this than any other thing,” said council President Daniel Bunn. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or email [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm.           By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2014 @ 4:48 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501