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Updated: 8:12 PM Feb 12, 2010
NEW INFO: City of Huntington Cracking Down on Delinquent Fee Offenders
The city of Huntington is cracking down on folks who are late with their municipal and refuse fees.
Posted: 8:12 PM Feb 12, 2010Reporter: Randy Yohe Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com |
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57 Comments 
UPDATE from Friday 2/12
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- In cash-strapped Huntington, home and business owners owe more than $4 million in delinquent refuse fees and penalties.
But we've found collecting that money is no easy task. The city is limited in what it can do to collect overdue trash fees, and city officials can not stop collecting someone's trash if that citizen doesn't pay.
City Finance Director Deron Runyon says the list has no teeth. State health laws prohibit cutting off garbage collection for non-payers, and Huntington can not penalize like, say, Ashland, Ky., where trash and water fees are collected together.
"If you don't pay your combined bill, they can cut off your water," Runyon says.
But many who pay their fees on time say it's not fair. Big Green Properties is a major player landlord around Marshall's campus. It's also a major player on the delinquent fees list, owing thousands.
Runyon says the city will continue to put liens on non-payment property, but that doesn't help fill city coffers. He said Huntington needs new legislation to give the city the power to sell liens and collect cash.
Another major player on the delinquent fees list is Huntington's sanitation superintendent Glen Garrett who declined to be interviewed. He owes more than $3,500 to his own department.
Runyon says the city's Columbus, Ohio-based collection agency hauled in $1.5 million dollars in delinquent fees last year. He also says making these lists public has prompted more payment activity.
But city leaders say they need more legal clout to really punish and collect for non payment. Huntington leaders also say they'll review the delinquent fee lists to see how many city employees are on it -- then proceed from there.
ORIGINAL STORY
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The city of Huntington is cracking down on folks who are late with their municipal and refuse fees.
Their names even are appearing in the local paper and the city's Web site.
The city on Tuesday released more than 2,000 delinquent accounts greater than $500 dollars. The accounts on the list represent about 12 percent of all municipal fee accounts.
Deron Runyon, the city's finance director, says those accounts total more than $4 million and publishing names is effective.
The city is allowing those who are delinquent to make a payment plan. If the city isn't contacted within 90 days, however, they will place liens on properties
Latest Comments
Anonymous, You said "Embarassing those who, through no fault of their own, cannot pay these fees." How much do you want to bet the vast majority of those delinquent CAN afford to pay their fees. I bet you that if any of those delinquent owned rental property, and I suspect some do, they would not be inclined to let their renters go months or years without paying their rent, regardless of the reason they weren't paying. Sorry, but we are carrying these folks. Their problems are not my problems. I have enough of my own to worry about. The City should do whatever necessary to collect what is owed it.
I certainly don't understand our beautiful city employing someone that owes delinquent fees to his own department. What a hypocrite! Very sad that he is on the city's payroll and I'm assuming asking others to pay up....practice what you preach. And I agree that giving this contract to an out of state firm was a monumental mistake!!!
Heather, many of those listed do appear to be in the poorer areas of the City. Regardless, when you (really) can't pay a bill (think, doctors), you contact the service provider and attempt to come to an arrangement about the fees. Even the poorest (or down on their luck) of the delinquent could likely pay say $5 or $10 a month. As you know, many paid NOTHING. I believe the starting point for this is that MANY City residents fall into the "poor" or "down on their luck" category, but THEY paid their City fees in full or at least paid something. If after you pay your bills you have any money left, THEN you spend money on the fun things in life. Those who do pay carry those who don't. With the financial problems of our City, every penny owed the City is a penny that cannot be paid to City employees. How much do you want to bet that some of those who are delinquent have relatives who work for the City ? It's a tangeled web we weave, huh ? Sorry, but no sympathy here.
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