Missouri State Senator Threatens Legislation Against Water Company After They Shut His Water Off.

Columbia Daily Tribune | February 2003 | Josh Flory

[gopno1]

Jacob files amendment after cutoff Measure seeks to constrain utilities in ending service.

By JOSH FLORY of the Tribune’s staff Published Tuesday, February 25, 2003 Three months after water service to his home was disconnected for failure to pay a bill, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Ken Jacob of Columbia won approval for legislation imposing new restrictions on water utilities in the three counties he serves.

The measure, which Jacob added to a bill last week, stipulates that water service in Boone, Randolph and Howard counties - not including the city of Columbia - cannot be disconnected for nonpayment of a bill unless the outstanding amount owed exceeds $50. The proposal also requires that before water service in those counties is disconnected, residents must receive by certified mail notice in advance of the cutoff. That notice must include the proposed action and its date, the cost of reconnection, the reason for the proposed action, the amount owed, the address to which the customer should send payment, all actions necessary to prevent disconnection and a phone number regarding disconnection.

The bill that includes Jacob’s amendment gained Senate approval last week and has moved on to the House.

Utility records obtained yesterday indicate that Public Water Supply District No. 9 disconnected water service at Jacob’s home on Nov. 5, Election Day, according to information released under the state’s open records law. A water district official said that a balance of $19.61 due Oct. 10 went unpaid. A penalty was applied Oct. 16, and a delinquency notice was sent. The meter at Jacob’s home on St. Charles Road was locked Nov. 5 but reconnected the same day after his wife paid a $50 fee plus the amount due.

Diana Fredrick, office manager for the water district, said that after the disconnection, Jacob called the water district and angrily warned, "We were going to pay."

"We told him we would be more than happy to reconnect him if he came down and paid his bill and his lock fee," said Fredrick. "That’s when the profanity started."

Fredrick said the senator warned that "he was going to get some kind of" legislation "started to stop us from locking people out of their water service, and that’s basically what he’s trying to do now." She said the senator’s demeanor was "very unprofessional, very demeaning, very holier-than-thou," saying his first words to another district employee were, "Do you know who I am?"

Interviewed Friday, Jacob said he pushed the legislation because constituents complained about being disconnected for small bills. "One of the things I’m finding out … the reason that they turn your water off so quickly is they charge you so much to reconnect," he said.

Jacob said he frequently limits legislation to his own district because he doesn’t know if other parts of the state have similar problems. Early this session, Jacob proposed similar legislation for the entire state. That bill has not received a committee vote.

Asked whether his water service had ever been disconnected, Jacob immediately asked the reporter if his own water had ever been turned off. "That would be a personal question," he said. "I only ask public policy questions." Pressed for details on his own experience, Jacob responded by saying the issue was "none of your g-damn business."

After obtaining information yesterday about Jacob’s utility account through an open records request, a Tribune reporter approached the senator in his Capitol office. He refused further comment.

Alan Bauer, the Republican mayor of Ashland, sent a letter to Jacob criticizing the proposal, saying the requirement to send delinquency notices by certified mail would cost the city an additional $4,140 per year.

"The City is experiencing tough budget times too, and this legislation will do little to help a person get" their "bill paid," Bauer said in his letter. "The City has to make a choice to either reduce services or increase rates to cover this unfunded mandate."

After learning of Jacob’s history with his own water service, the Ashland mayor said the senator’s actions look like "vindictiveness."

"It bothers me to think we have people in the Senate who … use their authority in that manner," Bauer added.

One portion of Jacob’s legislation would have statewide application for sewer districts or corporations that have agreements with water-service providers. For example, some cities that own a local sewer system but not the water system have no recourse if a sewer bill isn’t paid, so they contract with a water district to cut off water service in such cases.

Under existing law, water service can be terminated 30 days after the sewer district sends written notice by certified mail. Under Jacob’s bill, that would be extended to 90 days.

Gary Markenson, executive director of the Missouri Municipal League, said the statewide provision would allow customers to go six months without paying their bills. He added that the provisions targeting Boone, Howard and Randolph counties were "pretty bad" and would result in added expenses for water providers in those counties.

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[gopno1]

A friend of mine and I went down to the Capitol and gave this guy a check on Monday to apply to his March water bill, along with a "nice" note. Fortunately he is term limited out and will be gone soon enough. Or not soon enough. He is the Senate Minority leader in Missouri. Only a Democrat would pull something like this.

[ACAC]

I interviewed this guy once. He acted like he did not have the time to deal with me. I was just a college student working on a project. He is also filibustering a bill to change the name of my University. Needless to say, this guy is a jerk in my book. Thank goodness he is the MINORITY Leader.