Poor and elderly need a break on city’s utility bill policy

Humanity House

This has been an unusually hot early-spring. We went from cold temperatures to hot with no days in between. One thing that everyone who has air conditioning can look forward to are high utility bills.

With nearly 25 percent of Iola residents living below poverty level and nearly 20 percent of our residents being over 65 and living on fixed incomes, it is time to take a serious look at our utility policies.

Money doesn’t magically appear just because you need it, and most elderly folks no longer have earning power. For those with a minimal education, employment opportunities here that pay a living wage are few and far between, making it extremely difficult for single parents or even married couples to make ends meet.

Our city utility policies are extremely punitive to the poor and elderly. Once a bill is past due, there is a 5 percent fee attached. If the bill is not paid by the date on the late notice, utilities are shut off, and a $35 reconnect fee is added.

When asked about the policy, city utility employees feel that adequate notice is given. One response was “they should just pay their bill.” When one person did not have the money for his bill but required oxygen, which requires electricity, we were told “then he should make sure and pay his bill.” When an elderly person could not pay their utility bill in full, but needed the cool air to survive the tremendous Kansas heat they were told “get a fan,” which of course requires electricity also. When questioned about the fairness of the utility policy the response was “they sure have no problem coming up with the money once they are turned off” and “it’s just the same people over and over.”

This lack of a basic understanding of poverty, and “if I close my eyes, it isn’t there” attitude is unfair, unjust, and uncaring and says a lot about our city government’s attitude towards the citizens they’re entrusted to look after.

Surrounding communities allow for a partial payment with a date for the remainder to be paid or no payment but a promise to pay by a specific date. These communities have a heart. These communities understand that punishing a person who is poor or on a fixed income does nothing but hurt the person who is already struggling.

Iola needs to rethink its utility policies. Mayor Wells was upset enough about the vote to rescind the water rate hike that he wrote a letter to the forum. In it, he wrote that the city council needed to be thinking of Iola’s infrastructure, the repairs that are needed and the cost of those repairs. The money has to come from somewhere.

Now he knows what the poor and elderly feel like in this town. They have to have utilities, but don’t have the money to pay the bill. They don’t get to hike rates on anything, demand more money from employers, or tell the government to give them more Social Security. They cut back on medicine and food; they turn off their lights, keep their televisions off, stop bathing and doing laundry, and if they can sell something they do. There is no budgeting that can squeeze an extra $25 from a $725 a month income.

So we would tell the city this. Do what you ask your citizens to do. Cut back, look at your budget, sell something, or do without. Or better yet, take a look at the communities that surround us and have a heart. That $35 reconnect fee could mean the difference between life and death for an elderly person or a person with an infant or medical issues. What is the cost to the city if a person dies from the heat after their utilities are turned off, and the city’s policies are proven to be as punitive as they are in a lawsuit? Our city leaders used to be our city fathers. Look after us as you would your children and remember, kindness matters!