Concerned citizen speaks out against city ordinance

PLAINS- The Plains Public Works Committee met on Monday to discuss the plight of a single resident. Local business owner and property owner Randy Garrison met with the council to confer about a water bill.

According to Garrison, this was no ordinary utility bill. Garrison found himself liable for $1,400 after a tenant on one of his properties failed to report a leak. The rupture in the plumbing subsequently leaked over 700,000 gallons of water according to the reading on the meter before repairs were made.

Garrison said the tenant was unable or unwilling to pay the bill and according to Plains city ordinances, he was responsible for the payment. Garrison said he was meeting with the committee to discuss his payment options and voice his opinions regarding the ordinance that he said should provide more protection to property owners from negligent tenants.

“The only reason I am pleading the case is because it seems like an unfair situation,” said Garrison. “The people that rent are not liable in any way. They could run up a $5,000 water bill and I would have to pay it.”

Committee Chair Carl Reeb said the group was sympathetic to Garrison’s problem and that they were open to discussion of his options regarding payment of the bill. Suggestions included dividing the payment into four monthly bills while the city attorney was consulted about future options.

Garrison said he was primarily concerned about the city ordinances that provide little recourse to property owners that are faced with a similar problem. He indicated that if the ordinance could not be altered, he would consider his rental property no longer financially viable.

“This is a problem for every landlord in town,” said Garrison. “Businesswise it’s not worth it to me. It will take years for me to recoup this loss. I think the ordinance needs to change.”

According to Mayor Michael Brinson, the ordinance places responsibility upon the landlord in these cases. The council discussed the option of giving landlords a one time exemption in the case of a “catastrophic” incident although the definition of what a “catastrophic” incident consisted of was never fully determined.

“I think tenants need to be partially liable for situations like this,” said Garrison. “I’m not trying to get myself off the hook but this type of thing could happen again tomorrow. The city needs to make them partially responsible.”

Council members decided to divide Garrison’s payments into four monthly payments. They also indicated their intention to contact the city attorney as soon as possible to discuss the options for possibly changing the ordinance concerning landlord and tenant responsibilities in these types of cases.