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Show Causes rarowan problems Residents skip utility bills PAROWAN Renters who skip town without paying their utility bills have prompted the Parowan City Council to review it's collection procedures. In its regular meeting March 3, the council passed a motion calling for the delivery of a "delinquency letter" to renters and to the landlords of renters who are receiving a second billing for utilities. The Council also authorized the formation of a committee to recommend an ordinance which would make the landlord responsible for utility bills of renters and making the renter liable to the landlord for payment of utility changes. Parowan City currently requires a $65 deposit from renters before electricity elec-tricity will be connected. "This amount often does not come close to covering the amount of delinquency which can be accrued by renters whocan leave town before collection procedures can take place," Mayor John C. Pendleton explained ex-plained to the Council. Generally, renters and people who stay in town only a relatively short time are the cause of the problem, according to Pendleton. The Council also approved amendments amend-ments to the City code, adding a number of criminal violations. The amendments were suggested by Wayne Townsend, police chief, and Philip Eves, city attorney. Townsend explained to the Council that the City could realize additional revenue if the added criminal violations were processed through city court rather than the district court. Criminal violations each of which carry a maximum penalty of a $299 fine and-or six months in the county jail added to the Parowan City Code include illegal possession of an alcoholic beverage, selling or supplying alcoholic beverages to a minor, issuing a bad check, public intoxication, joyriding (driving another person's vehicle without consent and depriving the owner of possession), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to assist a police officer and loitering. In business from the electrical department, the Council approved a rate change for customers of the City system who live outside the City limits. These customers will be charged the Utah Power & Light rate. Once an area is annexed to the City, customers in the annexed area would again go on the regular City utility rates. Earl Bunn, chairman of the Parowan City Power Board, reported that the generator at the Paragonah hydroelectric hydro-electric plant will not be in service again " for a least another month. In other business, the Council Heard a recommendation from Mayor Pendleton that the City stand the cost of sprinkler heads and underground un-derground electrical service at the Little League ball park. The Council heard a request from Joan Mortensen for $600 for the next budget year for the Little League has received $300 from the Council for each of the past several years. Delayed a report from a committee studying computer services for the City until April 7. Approved the appointment of Earl Bunn as the City's voting representative represen-tative at the upcoming annual In-termountain In-termountain Consumer Power Association (ICPA) meeting. Adopted a purchase order system which would require the approval the City recorder for purchases up to $300, the approval of the City Council for purchases over $1,000. Authorized an offer of $600 per hour for city water shares being offered for sale by Jim Miller. |