The city will soon resume water shutoffs, but those who are behind on their bills can request a payment plan.
City Manager Craig Owens told city commissioners in November that staff will soon need to resume collections for nonpaying utility customers.
According to the city’s website, signing up for a payment plan means you agree to pay each monthly bill by the due date; if your bill isn’t paid by 5 p.m. the day it’s due, your water could be shut off with no notice, and the entire account balance plus the reconnection fee would have to be paid to get it turned back on.
Collections and late fees will resume after Jan. 1. To sign up for a payment plan, visit this link and fill out the form before that date.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families is offering assistance to households earning less than 150% of the federal poverty level. To see if you might qualify and to apply for the one-time benefit, visit this link.
Collections, late fees and shutoffs were suspended in March 2020 amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Altogether, there was a balance of about $1.52 million unpaid on 3,807 active accounts as of the Nov. 16 City Commission meeting.
See more background in this memo to the commission:
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Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
