Iola City Council members will hear a plea Monday to change its policies regarding past-due utility accounts.
The Allen County Connectors — a group of local volunteers who assist citizens in need — are asking Iola to adopt a “cold weather rule” to largely prevent utility shutoffs in the winter months.
The group also is requesting the city begin allowing payment plans in which overdue utility amounts are paid off in monthly installments.
Customers still would be required to pay their bills in full for current service while paying the overdue amount.
Allowing the payment plans would prevent customers from having to pay an added $55, in disconnection and reconnection fees, noted Angie Murphy, Allen County’s 911 director and a Connectors member.
The state’s Cold Weather Rule prohibits utility companies from disconnecting a customer for nonpayment when the temperature is forecast to drop below 35, or be in the mid-to-low 30s over the next 24 hours. Iola is one of the few communities in the area that does not adhere to a Cold Weather Rule, according to the Connectors.
“It became apparent that, in Allen County, there is a problem unique to the City of Iola,” Connectors wrote in a letter to the Council.
Of 138 calls received from May to December 2015, the Connectors processed 47 calls for help with utility bills.
Since the Connectors group was formed in early 2015 they have received calls for a myriad of services — anything from seeking available child care to securing a ride to the doctor’s office.
Of all the calls, three subjects came up with recurring frequency.
“Rent, utilities and food,” Murphy said.
The Connectors understood quickly their resources were insufficient to provide much help with utilities and rent but could have limited success securing food by working with community pantries, the Community Garden and other aid groups.
“There’s really no way we can help with rent,” Murphy said.
That left utilities.
If we are going to identify problems, are we going to identify solutions,” Murphy asked.
