The council approved the first reading of an ordinance that lets landlords get notification of a 10-day late fee period on unpaid utility bills, giving the landlord the option of shutting off the service instead of being charged the late fee renters didn't pay.
Under the new ordinance, the landlord can notify the city that he wishes the gas, water or sewer be disconnected.
There was some discussion of “hard luck cases,” times in which there was a threat to life and health if the utilities were disconnected, and the council inserted a provision that said the city was not liable for the bill if it fails to turn off the utility.
“If disconnecting someone means somebody in the house is going to freeze,” Mayor William H. Thomason said, “the city won't turn off the heat and the city won't pay the bill or the late fee.”
It's important to have a fair ordinance, agreed Councilman Kelly Stevenson. “This thing can't be skewed to favor landlords,” he said.
The council also discussed but took no action Monday on a lease agreement between the city and the Industrial Commission on property behind and on the south side of the Centre on Main.
The city and commission jointly own the Centre, the old Sonic Restaurant property and the lot behind the Centre. All agreed that the back lot should be used for Centre parking, but the city was expected to ask for more leeway in future uses of the Sonic lot and building.
The council gave the mayor and City Attorney Kenneth Smart authority to negotiate and reach agreement on the 28-year lease.
In other action, the council reappointed for 4-year terms Steve Kinkade to the Board of Adjustment and David Langley and Wilbur Etter to the Leitchfield Planning Commission. All three terms expire at the end of December.
Because of holidays, the council said both council meetings in January will be held on Tuesdays.
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