Marthasville city leaders are discussing whether the city’s utility deposits need to be revamped to better protect from customers who abandon their bills.

The Board of Aldermen discussed possible changes to the monetary amount and the structure of utility deposits during a public meeting July 22. The deposit helps cover the cost of things like unpaid bills or damaged trash bins.

The city collects deposits for water, sewer trash and recycling services. The amount for those deposits had been $150 total, until the city switched trash service providers earlier this month.

Under the city’s new contract with Meridian Waste, recycling services are now opt-in on the part of each resident. That would mean the portion of the utility deposit meant for recycling will also become optional, said Mayor David Lange.

“For people opting out of recycling, that sets the deposit at $100. ... In the city clerk’s opinion, that is too low, particularly for those who are renting, as opposed to being homeowners,” Lange said. “A $100 deposit usually won’t cover two months worth of delinquent payments.”

Lange said homeowners don’t pose much of an issue of unpaid bills, because bills usually need to be squared away before a home can be sold.

Renters, however, can leave delinquent accounts behind them because they don’t own, and aren’t selling, their homes.

“They’ll just pick up and leave. And a lot of them do,” Lange commented.

Lange said city staff advised the utility deposit amount should remain at $150 for renters, even without recycling service.

If approved, the changes would only apply to future accounts, such as people who move to Marthasville or relocate within the city after the date of the change.

Another issue brought to the surface is that the city’s utility deposits are billed and recorded as four separate fees — for water, sewer, trash and recycling — creating a cumbersome system for city clerical staff.

In fact, during the meeting where the deposits were being discussed, City Attorney Mark Piontek said he was unable to locate the various sections of city code where the deposit amounts are written. He said the digital code book he was referencing might never have been updated when the deposits were instated.

Piontek advised that the city is legally allowed to charge renters and homeowners different rates for their utility deposits.

East Ward Alderman Nick Lange said the city should consolidate the fees so that every Marthasville resident is paying a clear, consistent amount.

“I don’t like the deposit being tied to separate things ... it just needs to be a deposit fee for everything, all in one,” Nick Lange said. “It needs to be the same and consistent across the board, doesn’t matter if they’re a renter or a homeowner.”

West Ward Alderman Leo Meyer responded that having one universal deposit could lead to an unfair situation for residents who don’t use all of the city’s utilities. For example, some people have their own water and sewer on their property, Meyer said.

Aldermen did not take action on the utility issue at their July 22 meeting. The board asked Piontek and City Clerk Rhiannan Clark to research how other cities in Missouri handle their utility deposits and bring the information back to the board for further deliberation.