Since March the city suspended disconnecting customers with unpaid utility bills, but that is ending Oct. 16.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot said, “Back in March when the pandemic began and people began losing their jobs and businesses shutdown, financial hardship happened, we went along with private utility companies and decided to suspend disconnections.”
At Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting, Fontenot announced the city is setting an Oct. 16 deadline on outstanding gas and sewer bills.
“We are going to ask that Oct. 16 is the date you come in and make sure you are squared up on your balance,” he said.
The city is like any other business, he said. “We have bills to pay.”
As of Sept. 4, there were 890 customers owing a total of $66,103.04, according to information provided the Board at the meeting. The city has about 3,700 accounts.
“On October 16, 2020, any customer with unpaid balances on their gas and/or sewer account will be disconnected from service.
“For services to be turned back on, the customer will have to pay the owed amounts as well as all reconnection fee,” stated a city statement.
“You may contact the City of Eunice Gas and Sewer Billing Department at 337-457-6505 if you have any questions,” it added.
Alderwoman Germaine Simpson said utility disconnections have been controversial.
“We want the citizens to understand it is like Scott said, the city has bills to pay,” she said.
“But not only that, at the end of every year we have a financial auditor who comes in and audits the city books and finances. So, if you have someone who is on the books getting sewage for the last two years or the last year and they’ve never paid, who are they still getting service without any payment? So, we have to answer for that,” she said.
“We don’t people to think “Oh, they are to disconnect you or whatever.’ I’m sure they can make a payment arrangement. As long as you don’t renege on the payment arrangement it will be OK,” she said.
Fontenot said the city is ready to work with customers.
“If you have some type of unforeseen circumstance ... we will work with you the best we can,” he said.
Utility bill assistance is also available from the St. Landry Parish Community Action Agency, he said.
