PROCTORVILLE – The county’s Union-Rome Sewer District, plagued last year by delinquent bills and poor finances, has improved, county commissioners said last week.

Monday, May 21, 2001

PROCTORVILLE – The county’s Union-Rome Sewer District, plagued last year by delinquent bills and poor finances, has improved, county commissioners said last week.

The utility’s actions last year – including extra delinquent notices, an increase in late penalties, a proposal to contract out the management of the sewer system to improve collections and efficiency, and layoffs – has made a positive difference in the financial condition of the sewer system, its administrator, Tim Porter, wrote in a letter to commissioners last week.

Parts of that letter appear here"

"Last fall, three employees were laid off which equaled a savings of over $75,000 per year including the cost for benefits. There are no plans to call back these laid off employees, so this savings will continue. The remaining employees have worked hard to make the sewer system more efficient as well by closely monitoring expenses.

"Last year, the sewer system increased the monthly penalty for late payments to 15 percent. This action was done to encourage customers to pay their bills on time as well as pay any overdue balances promptly. This effort has been a success. In fact, the collection rate for the year 2000 was over 103 percent (because of customers paying overdue bills)

"Also with the cooperation of the county prosecutor, the system has recently settled the largest overdue balance, which also helps the bottom line, and sends a message of strict enforcement. We will continue to vigorously pursue those customers who allow overdue balances to become excessive.

"These recent measures have improved the financial situation of our sewer system; however due to ever increasing costs such as gasoline prices, health insurance and the cost of meeting environmental requirements, we are still running a very tight budget. Thanks to the input of the advisory committee, the county commissioners, and the hard work of the Union-Rome Sewer employees, the sewer system is improving," Porter wrote.