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Fifteen San Antonio residents and businesses had their water cut off because of unpaid bills.
By CHASE SQUIRES
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 7, 2000
SAN ANTONIO -- Nobody can say Commissioner Heiskell Christmas plays favorites -- not after what happened Wednesday. Christmas, who joined the City Commission this year and was placed in charge of the city's water department, got tough on residents who didn't pay their water bill last month, shutting off 15 homes and businesses Wednesday, including two commissioners.
"I was in my shower when my water got turned off for a $12 bill," Commissioner Wendi Edwards told the board.
Commissioner Dennis Phillips was another who fell victim to Christmas' tough stance. His water was turned off for failing to pay an $11 bill.
Both commissioners had to pay a $45 reconnect fee once they paid their late bills.
Neither complained about paying the fees, but they did join other residents in questioning the swift action in a community that prides itself on being neighborly.
Resident Candice Tucci said she hustled to City Hall on Wednesday, arriving barely in time to pay her $11 bill before she was scheduled to be disconnected.
"I just made it," she said.
Christmas was unapologetic for the crackdown.
"I have to apply the rules across the board," he said. "It's on the water bill that payment is due the 15th of the month."
If a payment is late, the city tries to send a warning notice, Christmas said. If the bill isn't paid by the first of the next month, the customer is subject to cutoff.
The city, Christmas said, can't play favorites by only calling customers known to the staff to warn them when a bill is late. And calling every customer would cost too much.
"It would be very nice if I could afford to have someone on staff who could call people up and say, "Hey, you forgot to pay your water bill,' " Christmas said. "The bills are due on the 15th. We're all adults."
Commissioners encouraged Christmas to devise a more forgiving method of collecting payments, such as applying a $5 late fee after the first month and turning to shut-offs only after a second month without payment.
Christmas said he would review the policies after the department buys an electronic meter reader that would make for more accurate and efficient readings.
All but three of the 15 consumers whose water was shut off paid their bills and had their water turned back on Wednesday, Christmas said.
In other business Wednesday:
Commissioner Sharon Madden said the grant package for refurbishing the city's beach house on Lake Jovita -- also known as Clear Lake -- is nearly complete. After a state review of the bid proposal, the city will be ready to hire contractors to restore the picnic areas, parking lot and pier.
Driving golf carts and other unregistered vehicles on city streets is illegal, commissioners reaffirmed. The board plans to ask deputies to crack down on the unauthorized vehicles seen driving in town.
Commissioners also recognized San Antonio volunteer fire Chief Troy Newton for his work with the city and his close call fighting a raging brush fire last month when he barely escaped as flames surrounded his tractor.
And commissioners formally welcomed new Water Clerk Tammy Bader. Bader replaces Joan Rogers, who is taking the job of town clerk in neighboring Saint Leo.