When a Wright City landlord who owed over $1,300 for his tenants’ unpaid city bills sought leniency from penalties, Wright City aldermen were not particularly impressed.
The Wright City …
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When a Wright City landlord who owed over $1,300 for his tenants’ unpaid city bills sought leniency from penalties, Wright City aldermen were not particularly impressed.
The Wright City Board of Aldermen often reviews requests for leniency on city utility bills or late payment penalties. The properties under scrutiny in this case are several trailer homes located on the 400 block of Veterans Memorial Parkway in Wright City.
“This gentleman has owed us quite a bit of money for months,” City Administrator Jim Schuchmann explained. “He finally, after several months of ghosting us, called the other day and said he wanted to get things taken care of.”
Schuchmann said the landlord wanted to pay his original bills, but not any of the late payment penalties on them. City staff said $262 in late fees on the property owner’s accounts have been accumulating since late 2018.
Schuchmann asked if the landlord could pay the original bills immediately as an act of good faith. The landlord agreed, and put about $1,100 on his credit card to get current on his payments, Schuchmann said.
City Treasurer Stephanie Hampton added that the landlord changed all future bills to go directly to him, rather than his tenants, to ensure they get paid.
Schuchmann said if aldermen wanted to consider writing off the penalties, they should wait for several months to ensure future bills are getting paid on time.
Ward 2 Alderman Nathan Rohr said he wasn’t interested in allowing any such leeway. He said the landlord has known this was an issue and didn’t attempt to resolve it before now.
“He’s just been counting for this for forever,” Rohr commented. “He’s done this for forever. Just because you don’t pay it, and all the sudden you pay $1,400 — you’re going to pay one way or another. ... You’ve got to hold them responsible.”
Other aldermen signaled their agreement, saying they will enforce the penalties to discourage other property owners from withholding delinquent payments.
“We’re never going to stop it if we don’t do it that way,” commented Ward 2 Alderman Tom Dixon.
Aldermen voted unanimously at their Feb. 27 meeting to require full payment on all the landlord’s accounts.
