Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mayor lambasted concerning overdue utility bills in city

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor got an earful from two business woman concerning utility bills.

Kelia Murphy, co-owner of Wolves Drive In, and Maxine Sullivan, owner of Mama Max's Diner, questioned the mayor as to why some people and businesses could get away without paying their electric bills, while others had their electricity shut off by the city for non-payment.

Murphy said the city's and mayor's methods are discrimination as to how the way this issue is handled, adding it seems as though who pays and who doesn't is based on who the person or business involved is.

"Some businesses are more than 60 and 90 days past due and still have power," she said. "When we call, we're given excuses and told the city will get its money."

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said, leases were signed with some companies, but they don't include the number of people to be hired. Some of these companies, he continued, don't live up to their agreement and hire all they said they would.

Future leases, he said, will include this number or the company will be in default of its loans.

"The city never promised," he continued, "a reduced rate or told them they didn't have to pay their bills. The city has never given free electricity for industries to locate here."

Murphy again said there are businesses operating without paying their bill, with it being the same for some citizens. "I want to know why you let the bills get so high, mayor?"

"They're not paying their bills," Taylor said. "There are circumstances you're not aware of.

"There are businesses getting behind, but they pay up. I don't know why the hardware store isn't turned off. I wasn't aware of it being written off or not."

"You told me it was a Pittman deal," Murphy fired back. "You said the bill changes on the meter and penalties. Why did you let it get so high if people aren't paying?"

"We try to help people, and we don't cut someone off because we don't like them."

Sullivan spoke up, saying her meter had been pulled during the ice storm because her mouth was too smart.

When the meter was pulled, she said, the food in the freezer of her business spoiled.

"We didn't have an electrical problem," she said, "that was your excuse for the newspaper."

According to Sullivan, the city didn't fix the power line, but, instead, climbed up the pole and turned her power back on.

The generators being used, she said, were connected to gas lines and being used at her house.

"I'm tired of this," Jones said. "There was a tree limb on the line. I pulled the meter because there was a generator on in the back yard.

"We didn't have time to inspect all the houses in the ice storm. If a generator is running, we'll pull the meter every time."

Jones said Sullivan got smart and gave him a cussing, adding he didn't tell her he would pull the meter because of her mouth.

"I called the Picayune," Sullivan said. "When they came out I got hooked up again."

Taylor said when the city shot limbs down, those affected should have gotten their electricity turned on within a day or two. "I remember shooting the limbs to get them off your line," he told Sullivan.

Sullivan said other people with generators were inspected, and those she used had people look at them.

Because she said something, she continued, she was punished by having her meter pulled.

She said Jones told her the meter was being pulled because of her smart mouth and would be put back when he got ready to do it.

"I'll give you a public apology if that's what you want," Jones said.

"I feel I should be paid for the food I lost. I don't have insurance covering food," she said.

"It's history," Taylor said of the ice storm events. "We'll try to do better.

Turning to Murphy about disconnects, he said, "Mrs. Murphy, we'll try to do better. We're working on it. We're not trying to make anyone pay anybody else's electric bill. We may have been too lenient with businesses, but other things are involved, but sometimes you get stuck."

A real business person, Murphy said, cuts their losses. "It's the same with households. We have an ordinance, but still choose not to enforce it."

Taylor said this was a problem when he took office and will continue to be a problem because people are involved.