Billing Error-Septic Tanks, Etc.
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Income and Property Tax
Forum Description: Discuss Tax issues, current, past and upcoming.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3959
Printed Date: Apr 27 2024 at 12:01am
Topic: Billing Error-Septic Tanks, Etc.
Posted By: VietVet
Subject: Billing Error-Septic Tanks, Etc.
Date Posted: Jun 26 2011 at 5:40pm
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Sunday's Journal.....
Billing error will cost sewer users 24-months back-pay Sewer requirement could cost current septic users thousands to tap in MIDDLETOWN — A billing error resulted in several residents receiving free sewer services for more than a decade. A septic tank inspection report compiled by the Middletown Health Department revealed three households in the Thorny Acres subdivision had removed their septic systems and hooked up to the city sewer line in the 1990s. However, these homes were not billed for sewer service. Duane Wooton, assistant finance director and treasurer for the city, said the households did legally pull permits to connect to the sewer and pay the necessary connection fee. That information just never made it to the water billing department. “Somewhere, somehow communication broke down and they weren’t billed,” he said. HOW IS THAT THE RESIDENT'S FAULT DUANE? There is a statute of limitations for sewer charges of six years. Wooton said because there is “mutual responsibility in the error” the city will collect 24-months back-pay from the households. "MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY"? AND WHERE IS THAT WRITTEN DUANE? SOUNDS TO ME IT WAS A CITY ADMIN. SCREWUP AND NOW YOU WANT THE PEOPLE TO PAY. WHEN IS THE CITY GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT'S MISTAKES AND STOP PENALIZING THE PEOPLE? IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE CITY IS FISHING FOR REVENUE AGAIN USING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND PHILLIPS TO SEND OUT HER PEOPLE TO INSPECT OPPORTUNITIES TO GATHER MORE "GRASPING AT STRAWS" REVENUE. WHY ARE THEY JUST NOW CONCERNED ABOUT TAPPING INTO THE CITY SEWER, WHEN THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES? ADDITIONAL REVENUE BY ANY MEANS. COLLECT THAT SEWER CHARGE ON THAT WATER BILL. THEY WILL SAY IT IS DICTATED FROM STATE LAW. 
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Replies:
Posted By: Voleye
Date Posted: Jun 26 2011 at 6:20pm
| How is there mutual responsibility? The only thing I can think of is the owners of the house are willing to pay. Otherwise I would tell them where to go. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jun 28 2011 at 11:35am
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Phillips and the old health department is really stroking the public about the need for more money in her area with the upcoming health levy.
Journal story about STD's in the city...... Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise locally and health officials say without funding it could become epidemic In Hamilton, reported cases of chlamydia and hepatitis b and c rose 44 percent and 67 percent, respectively, in the past decade. Middletown reported an 48 percent increase of hepatitis b and c. Health officials said much of that is tied to lack of resources for education and the closing of free STD clinics “STDs are on the bottom line of communicable diseases,” Phillips said. “They won’t make a lot of people sick or kill people. But chlamydia — left untreated —can lead to infertility.” The cost Testing can be costly, especially for the uninsured “The health department is supposed to promote, detect and prevent,” Phillips said. “It gets hard when you don’t have the money and you don’t have the staff and you have to prioritize what you do and what the state mandates.” SELL IT PHILLIPS, SELL IT. THIS IS THE SECOND STORY ON THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS IN RECENT WEEKS. FUNNY HOW THESE STORIES SURFACE WHEN A LEVY IS PROPOSED AND THE NEED IS NOT PUBLICIZED AT ANY OTHER TIME. IT IS ALMOST TOO COMICAL AS TO THE OBVIOUS INTENT OF THIS INFORMATION. 
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Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jun 28 2011 at 11:42am
| Agreed, thought exactly same when I rad STD. Why pass a levy when ObamaCare is on the way. I suspect 99.9% of the individuals know the benefits of exerting caution. Education will not sell the levy. |
Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: Jun 28 2011 at 1:19pm
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Just wow how desperate are these people. Sorry if people aren't smart enough to avoid STDs but I will vote no,on every tax hike/levy until we get some real leadership in office and I don't see that happening anythime soon.
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Posted By: TudorBrown
Date Posted: Jun 28 2011 at 3:47pm
These people won't be able to reproduce like rabbits? We could only be so lucky!! |
VietVet wrote: