The Pickens County Water Authority received backlash for its change in water rates last month. Residents and business owners publicly opposed the new rates at the September 17th meeting. Quick Burger Drive-in owner Robin Parsons said last month’s rate change caused his bill to sky-rocket. Mr. Parsons said his bill increased 100 percent from last month, while poultry farmer Anelle Bagwell said her bill went from $1500 last month to $2700 this month, despite using less water during the latter period. Other residents requested adjustments due to abnormally high bills. In response, the water authority changed the water rates to disperse the increase more equitably.

“I misunderstood it,”

board member Revere Fowler admitted, adding,

“I was wrong about it. I don’t think it’s right to double somebody’s water bill.”

Chairman Tim Jordan also said he thought the increase was a little premature. Click here for a full article on the new water rates. Although essentially about last month’s rate change, one business owner voiced a different kind of complaint.

Poultry farmer, Ruth Miranda said the water department quoted her the incorrect amount when she came into the office on August 24th. She was told she owed $2771.01 without a surcharge. Miranda then paid $1000 on August 29th—the surcharge was not added until the bills were printed on the 30th. She was also upset about the way she was treated when she came into the water department’s office to pay her $1770.01 bill on September 14th. Miranda accused Water Department Director Larry Coleman of being rude to her and discriminating against her. However, when Board Member Richard Hancock asked Miranda how Coleman discriminated against her, she struggled for a response. According to Miranda’s comments at the meeting, Coleman allegedly laughed at her because of her accent. Later in the meeting, Donna Byrd, who works in the water office and spoke with Miranda on the 24th, said she was loud, was coming over the desk and talked over Coleman. Also, Byrd said when they tried to speak to her Miranda at one point spoke in Spanish. For Byrd, the only thing that could be perceived as discriminatory was Coleman’s comment when Miranda spoke Spanish to him. According to Byrd, Coleman told Miranda that he could not understand her. Further, Coleman explained the month before, she couldn’t pay her bill because she wasn’t going to sell her chickens until the next month, so he allowed her to pay the bill the following month. During the discussion on the 24th, Coleman took Miranda to see Commissioner Jones per request. Here, Jones recommended Miranda voice her concerns at the meeting. After listening to her comments, Chairman Jordan told Miranda he would discuss the matter with Commissioner Rob Jones and that the board would look at both sides of the issues. The board will then send her letter. If she was not satisfied with the results, Jordan said, she could then come to the next meeting and try to resolve the matter. Miranda said she was not happy with this answer.

The water authority also voted on allowing a grace period for senior citizens, in addition to voting on the returned check policy. Chairman Jordan read a letter from a customer showing concern regarding late fees for seniors. Last month, the authority eliminated all grace periods. Prior to the change, customers had a grace period from the 15th due date to the 26th, when the authority would apply the late fee. The customer in the letter argued that the $25 late fee could mean the difference between buying medicine, groceries or paying the water bill, due to limited income. The letter requested waiving the late fee for senior citizens. The board upheld its current policy, voting against the grace period for seniors, 3-1; Revere Fowler abstained. The authority also passed a new return check policy, voting 3-1; Ray Roberts abstained. The new policy reads: When Pickens Water receives two return checks for any payment during a 12 month period, the customer may not pay with a check for a period of 12 months from the date of the last returned check.
At the end of the meeting, Coleman delivered an update on the Tate project. He explained that Stanco Inc. completed installing the 8” main. Once lines are filled and tested, the contractor will begin installing service and tie-ons, he said.